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Derek Ryan Reflects on Lack of Respect' from Edmonton Oilers Management

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Tom Banks | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 4:14 PM ET

Derek Ryan's Oilers career came to an end recently, and now, he's been the second player to criticize management in a matter of weeks over their lack of respect.

The Edmonton Oilers are set for another run at the Stanley Cup in 2025/26, with one of the most talented rosters on paper this season in the very loaded Western Conference.

However, the front office has been criticized immensely since Stan Bowman took over, and now, for the second time in a week after Dylan Holloway's comments, the lack of respect from management has been addressed.

Derek Ryan Calls Out Oilers Management Following Retirement

After departing the Oilers earlier this off-season, Derek Ryan has now addressed many things to do with the organization, and while it pained him to call out the front office, he did so with Bob Stauffer on Oilers NOW.

'It was a little bitter for me just because of how things were handled with the new management, the somewhat new coaching staff and just kind of the brick work that I had laid with that group. The blood, sweat, and tears that I had given with that group in three and a half years, just to have it brushed under the rug, is pretty disappointing. I don't think it would have been that way if the management wouldn't have changed.'

Clearly, Ryan wasn't happy with the way his playing time was handled down the stretch, suggesting that under the old management, a player of his experience and caliber would have been respected much more throughout the process.

Instead, Ryan was relegated to play in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors on multiple occasions.

Ultimately though, the organization brought in Kris Knoblauch and Stan Bowman to be ruthless in their pursuit for a Stanley Cup, but with two former players now calling them out, time will tell whether or not they can achieve that goal under this leadership.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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