ROSTER REDUX: Derek Ryan

EDMONTON, AB - Eight years into his NHL career, Derek Ryan continues to make up for lost time.

The 36-year-old versatile forward continues to showcase his NHL worth following a season in which he scored the second most goals in his career with 13 - many of them in thrilling fashion.

Look back at his breakaway tallies against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 23 and the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 7, or his picture-perfect shots versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 25, Ottawa Senators on March 14, and New York Rangers on Feb. 17, and you can see why Ryan's recorded six seasons of at least double-digit goals.

While the goals are nice, the former University of Alberta Golden Bear has worked hard on making himself a versatile NHL player.

"You worry about your numbers and your stats and getting contracts and solidifying yourself in the league, but for me now, and I'm sure a lot of older guys are veteran guys that have been around the league longer now, they realize that winning is what's more important to us," Ryan said. "And if I can score goals and help the team, that's great, I'd love to do that. If I can kill penalties and help the team, if I can take faceoffs, if I can get pucks out along the wall as a winger, if I can take some shifts at centre to help our centremen have a little bit of a break, that's great too.

If I can play great defensively, whatever it is up and down the lineup, maybe even more importantly than all that, can I be a leader in the locker room? Can I be a voice that helps that leadership group in there that needs some help vocally?"

Ryan is well regarded in the Oilers dressing room and among the team's coaching staff, and his willingness to fill any role last season helped contribute to his standing on the team. It wasn't uncommon to see Ryan move around from centre to wing, or from fourth to first line -- particularly with the game on the line in the dying minutes.

He was also a solid contributor on the penalty kill, where he recorded nearly 100 minutes of shorthanded time. The forward also set a new career best with two shorthanded goals on the season as a part of the Oilers NHL leading 18 shorthanded markers.

The biggest milestone for Ryan, who didn't even begin his NHL career until he was 29-years-old, was suiting up for his 500th NHL game -- which he did alongside teammate Zach Hyman in the final game of the regular season against the San Jose Sharks.

"I got to speak to both those guys this morning and congratulate them on this," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said about the milestones. "Two heart and soul, two foxhole-type players, two men that get everything out of what God gave them. They're just phenomenal teammates, and it seems to me despite their advanced ages, they keep getting better."

Ryan's performance last season was enough to merit a new two-year contract from General Manager & President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland. The deal likely covers the twilight years of the unlikely NHLer from Spokane, Washington's career and he hopes to cap it off in style.

"I'd like nothing more than to finish out my career hoisting a Cup as an Edmonton Oiler," Ryan said.