Oilers answer possibility of Derek Ryan retirement after being placed on waivers
Photo credit: Oilers Nation
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke to reporters after news broke that forward Derek Ryan was placed on waivers and gave his honest thoughts on what the future may hold for the veteran forward.
»I believe there will be a time when he's back playing with us. What the timeline is, I have no idea. With injuries, it could be next week it could be months down the road. He'll report sometime to Bakersfield, and we'll move forward from there.» - Coach Knoblauch
Ryan faces personal decision on his future in the NHL
The 38-year-old forward has been made a healthy scratch often this season and while playing 33 games with the Oilers, he has scored one goal with five points and saw his position demoted to the fourth line.
Just like myself, many Oilers fans are not taking the news well of Derek Ryan being placed on waivers. Several fans fell to their knees inside an Arby's and a Wendy's.
Other pundits including Alan Mitchell thinks that Ryan will need to take some time and figure out what he'd like to do going forward in his career as he'd either spend time with the Bakersfield condors becoming a mentor for all the young players or hanging up his skates.
If he clears, then it's decision time. Go to Bakersfield to mentor the yutes, or call it a career. Either way, he got more out his skill set than most who ever played in the NHL. - Alan Mitchell, Lowetide
A path back to the NHL exists for Ryan, but seems very unlikely. Ryan will keep grinding for that small chance as long as it exists.
Update as Ryan clears waivers will be reassigned to the Condors
After one day of being on waivers, Ryan ended up clearing and will be sent to Bakersfield soon. The Oilers management and coaching staff are currently evaluating their talent as the March trade deadline approaches, the team will need to make decisions on their roster including who would be available to be dealt.
Derek Ryan was a good soldier for 258 games with the Oilers, but we can all agree it was time.
It's likely that Ryan will not be traded for and with Noah Philip and the potential of Matthew Savoie scenes of time with the Oilers, it's possible that Derek Ryan may have played his last game with the Oilers.
The Oilers will be back in action at home at Rogers place when Alexander Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals arrive as the game will take place on January 21st at 9:00 PM eastern.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 20 | 833 ANSWERS Oilers answer possibility of Derek Ryan retirement after being placed on waivers Did you agree or disagree with the Oilers send veteran forward Derek Ryan to waivers? | ||
| Yes | 613 | 73.6 % |
| No | 220 | 26.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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