Four years ago, Derek Ryan watched the NHL’s free agent frenzy kick off from the comfort of his couch and his sights set on his coming campaign in the Swedish League. The next time around, he found himself under contract come the big league signing season, having proven himself enough to land one-year, $600,000 contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. But now, after three campaigns in the North American pro game, each one better than the last, Ryan finds himself signing what could be one of the most cost-effective contracts of the summer.
As free agency opened Sunday, Ryan, 31, signed the most lucrative contract of his career, a three-year, $9.375-million deal with the Flames that will see the journeyman pivot reunite with former Hurricanes coach Bill Peters, who departed Carolina for Calgary earlier this off-season. Ryan’s contract comes on the heels of his second-consecutive career year.
After getting his feet wet with a two-goal in six-game performance upon debuting in the NHL back in 2015-16, Ryan took massive strides, as he has throughout his entire post-major junior career, and became a fixture of the Hurricanes lineup the next season. He netted 11 goals and 22 points in a fourth-line role for Carolina, and given even more ice time this past season, Ryan upped his career-best totals to 15 goals and 38 points in 80 games. All the while, Ryan excelled at both ends of the ice with steady two-way play and a penchant for coming away from draws with the puck on his stick. He posted a 56.5 percent winning percentage on faceoffs and in more than 1,600 draws across his brief three-season career, Ryan has a winning percentage about 56 percent.
While Ryan’s not a signing that’s going to move the needle all that much, and certainly not one that’s going to steal headlines away from the deals biggest, most money-laden deals, his continued growth in recent seasons could mean this is one of the better deals inked this summer.
The $3.125-million price tag is considerably more than Ryan has earned in any prior season, but if he can contribute 15 to 20 goals and in the 40-point range, Ryan is going to be a welcome addition in Calgary. Add in his rapport with Peters and he’s a natural fit, one who will be able to hit the ground running from Day 1 with the Flames knowing exactly what will be expected of him and exactly to perform to the best of his abilities in his new home.