Blackhawks Acquisition: 600-Game NHL Veteran Emerges on Waivers by the Oilers
The Chicago Blackhawks could sign 600-game veteran Derek Ryan, and bolster a bottom-six that could lose major talent in March.
With the trade deadline ahead of us, we can assume that the Chicago Blackhawks will look to part ways with players who can get them the best assets.
In the meantime, they can add to their ranks they add center Derek Ryan to the core.
Ryan has significant hockey experience, thanks to playing five seasons primarily in Alberta, Canada with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
He was one of the Oilers who played against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals and helped push them to the brink, to game 7.
In total, he's played 60 games in the NHL playoffs and scored 10 points ( 3 G, 7 A) as a bottom-six forward.
Ryan has found himself out of a job, as the Oilers have Adam Henrique to shore up the third line.
While rookie Noah Philip has occupied his typical spot on the 4th line, this is surprising as Philip has only contributed 2 points (1 G, 1 A) in 6 games with the Oilers this season.
For an audition, it's not the kind of numbers you want to see.
Ryan himself has played 33 games for the Oilers this season scoring only 5 points ( 1 G, 4 A), and could use a fresh start elsewhere in the NHL.
It's not like the Blackhawks have the kind of depth that could afford to pass on someone like Ryan.
Lukas Reichel has only scored 2 points( 1 G, 1 A) in the last ten games with the Hawks, and Ryan Donato has been demoted from the lineup despite his reliable production.
Ryan himself would allow the Hawks to spread the productive players across the lineup. The Hawks could place Reichel on the wing, and push Pat Maroon out of the lineup.
His contract( $900K AAV) expires at the end of the season, so he'd be a rental for the Hawks unless Davidson thinks he's a good short-term investment.
