"Making room for klingberg" "Canucks broke them": NHL fans react as Oilers places Derek Ryan on waivers

Fans reacted after the Edmonton Oilers placed forward Derek Ryan on waivers and loaned defenseman Josh Brown to their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Ryan, who has played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and Oilers, is on a $1.8 million contract that expires at the end of this season.

Ryan has been a healthy scratch in 11 of Edmonton's last 15 games. He's appeared in 33 games this season, tallying a goal and five points. Ryan is set to report to Bakersfield should he clear waivers, according to Rotowire.

One felt that the Oilers signing UFA John Klingberg on Friday might have led to this move.

Another considered the Oilers' loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday as a reason they might be trying to shake up the roster.

Other reactions ranged from fans thanking Ryan to agreeing with his being cut from the roster.

"It was a pleasure, DR", one fan tweeted.

"That’s actually so sad. I get it. But Derek Ryan is the kind of dude it’s nice to have around," another tweeted.

"Thank you DR, but time is undefeated," another fan tweeted.

"I knew something was going to happen but I'm still sad to see him go," one fan tweeted.

"Should just Mike Smith him, not force him to play in the AHL," another tweeted.

Meanwhile, Josh Brown has played with the Condors for most of the season after signing a three-year, $3 million contract with Edmonton in July 2024. Brown has eight appearances for the Oilers this season with one assist, 13 hits and nine penalty minutes. His being loaned to the Condors might mean Jeff Skinner or Kasperi Kapanen might be fit to take the ice.

Derek Ryan a healthy scratch as Oilers go down 3–2 to Canucks

Ryan did not play on Saturday even as the Oilers went down 3–2 to the Vancouver Canucks. His last game was on Jan. 11 against the Chicago Blackhawks where he had only eight minutes on the ice.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid picked up a match penalty for a cross-check on Conor Garland after he wrestled with the Canucks forward in the closing seconds of the game. Garland admitted to holding McDavid down and said there were no hard feelings:

"But he’s a passionate guy. He’s a good dude. I mean, I don’t think he was … just his passion. It’s a tight game late in the game. Everybody has the fire in their belly trying to win a hockey game. So that’s the stuff that happens.”

McDavid will now have to face a disciplinary hearing, the NHL Player Safety team announced.