The Edmonton Oilers saw several young players shine during training camp, and this could lead to a veteran forward potentially leaving the team.
On *OilersNow*, Bob Stauffer and Frank Seravalli recently discussed the competition for the fourth-line center position. Noah Philp has impressed enough in camp to win the spot, potentially replacing Derek Ryan. The Oilers are looking to accumulate as much salary cap space as possible throughout the season, so placing Ryan on waivers could help them achieve some savings.
“Derek Ryan’s injury—though we don’t know its exact severity—could complicate things,” Seravalli noted. “There’s a chance Ryan could be waived, and you might see him placed on waivers soon.”
Ryan was injured in his final preseason game and is currently sidelined, listed as day-to-day. With his injury, Philp’s strong push for the fourth-line role, and the Oilers’ need to free up cap space, waiving Ryan seems like a probable outcome.
Although the Oilers don’t want to lose the veteran center, they might not have to. A similar situation occurred when the Toronto Maple Leafs waived Jason Spezza for cap reasons; Spezza indicated that if claimed, he would retire. At 37, Ryan might take the same stance, preferring not to relocate this late in his career.
In this scenario, the Oilers would gain the cap relief they need while keeping Ryan available as a depth option or locker room presence. He’s known as a solid teammate and a reliable bottom-six forward, and he could still play a valuable role with the team even if waived.
With Ryan injured, Philp’s outstanding training camp performance makes the decision easier for the Oilers. It seems likely that Philp will secure the fourth-line center spot for opening night, though Seravalli suggested there may still be some “finagling” to come before the final roster is set.
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