It’s what every hockey player dreams of, finding the end of the long and winding road to the NHL. While each player has his own unique path, for many players the road follows a conventional structure. You play in the junior leagues, college or Europe, get drafted, more than likely spend a few years in the minor leagues and then finally get the call.
For Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan, the path to a spot in hockey’s biggest and brightest stage was anything but conventional.
Ryan’s career started out that way, as the Spokane, Washington native played four seasons for his hometown Chiefs of the WHL. He then had a decision to make in regards to his hockey future. Rather than immediately sign on with a minor league team, Ryan chose to head north of the border in pursuit of a college education.
“At that point, the education was a really big factor in my decision,” Ryan said. “I wanted to have an education to fall back on when hockey was done. I went to the University of Alberta, got my degree there and continued to play hockey. I had a lot of success in hockey at that point.”
Following his college career, Ryan had another destination in mind rather than continuing in North America: Europe.
“I kind of came to another crossroads where, again, I could have played minor pro in North America, but at that point I felt like my game lent itself a little bit better to the European style,” Ryan said. “So, I figured I’d take advantage of an opportunity I’d have to take my wife over there and have some great experiences that not a lot of people my age get to have.”
It was in Europe where Ryan’s career really started to take off, and where he made his dream of playing in the NHL possible. Following a successful season in the Swedish League in 2014-15, the Canes signed him to a one-year, two-way deal in the 2015 offseason. He played most of last season for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers and did well, putting up 55 points in 70 games.
“I had a lot of success in Europe,” Ryan said. “I played in the Austrian league, moved up to the Swedish league and had a great year there. After that year, I was getting a lot of recognition from North American teams, NHL teams. I figured that was the point where I’d come back and try my shot at the NHL, try and see if I can play here and see if I can crack a lineup.”
Fast-forward from Ryan’s final season in Sweden and catching on with the Checkers to the Canes game against the New Jersey Devils on March 1, 2015. Following a mass exodus of players on expiring contracts at the trade deadline, the Canes made several call-ups from Charlotte, one of which was Ryan. That night at Prudential Center, the 30-year-old would finally realize his lifelong dream. It got better than that for Ryan, though.
In the second period of that game, with the Canes on a powerplay, the well-traveled forward came in off the half wall and sniped a shot top-shelf past Devils goalie Cory Schneider. In scoring a goal in his long-awaited NHL debut, Ryan created a memory that would last a lifetime.
“It was one of those moments where everything is kind of coming together,” Ryan said. “I had my family there, definitely a memory that we’ll talk about forever. Scoring a goal in my first game was awesome.”
Ryan ended up playing a six-game stint with the Canes last season, and the team brought him back on another two-way deal in the summer. After starting in Charlotte again this year, Ryan did not have to wait nearly as long for his call, joining the Canes in mid-November. He has been a fixture in the lineup since, playing a number of roles. Most recently, he has found his niche at right wing on the team’s top line with forwards Jeff Skinner and Victor Rask, and he currently has eight goals and 18 points in 33 games this season.
“I’ve played really well,” Ryan said. “I feel like I’ve, I don’t know about solidified a spot, but definitely proven that I can play in this league and provide offense. I’m just trying to provide the same game that I’ve played for the last however many years I’ve played pro. I’m a solid two-way player; I can play on both sides of the puck. I think I can create some offense as well.”
Skinner has played with a variety of linemates in his young career. For the time they have played together this season, Skinner has enjoyed having Ryan as his linemate.
“He’s been playing well,” Skinner said. “It’s fun to play with him. I think he obviously had some success overseas. He thinks the game pretty well at a high level, and when you give him time and space he can make plays and create. He’s smart; he’s easy to read off. Hopefully we can get on a little bit of a roll, me, him and Rask.”
In Ryan, Canes head coach Bill Peters has found himself a bit of a swiss-army knife. The third-year head coach has been able to use the veteran forward in a variety of roles and positions throughout the lineup, something that is very valuable on an NHL roster.
“Versatility,” Peters said. “He’s playing in a position right now as a winger; he’s comfortable there. He’s been there for a few games now and he looks like he’s settling in. He gives us the versatility where we can put him back in the middle; he can take some faceoffs. He’s on the power play; he kills penalties. There’s a lot of different areas where you can use him.”
For Ryan, the path to the NHL was a long one, longer than most with a lot of stops along the way. Now that he’s here, hopefully to stay, that long path gives him a greater appreciation for how special it is to play in the best league in hockey.
“Especially after a long journey like that,” Ryan said. “Not a lot of players get to see that all the way through. Having gone through all that, I don’t think I need any more reason to be grateful, but it does give me a little more of that reason. I’m thankful for where I am right now; it’s a great spot for me and my family. It’s a little bit of perspective on how lucky I am to be playing here in the NHL.”
Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan carries the puck through the neutral zone during the game against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 13 in PNC Arena. Ryan earned one assist for forward Jeff Skinner's goal early in the second period.
