Carolina Hurricanes sign forward Derek Ryan

Derek Ryan (#20 - USA) - Phil McRae (#18 - USA) - Gabe GŸntzel (#7 - USA) Foto: Marco Leipold / City-Press GbR Fotografenkennung: MO-1

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Monday that they had signed center Derek Ryan to a one-year, two-way contract.

The deal will pay Ryan $600,000 at the National Hockey League (NHL) level, or $150,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2015-16, with a guarantee of $185,000.

“Derek is a skilled, play-making center,” executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis said.

“He’s taken a bit of an unconventional path, but has earned a chance to play professionally in North America after having success at every level in Europe. We’re excited that he chose our organization.”

Ryan, 28, totaled 15 goals and 45 assists (60 points) in 55 games for Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in 2014-15.

The Spokane, Wash., native was named the SHL’s Forward of the Year and Most Valuable Player following the season.

Ryan’s international experience also includes playing on Team USA’s Select Team that won the Deutschland Cup in 2013.

Prior to playing in Sweden, the five-foot-10-inch, 170-pound Ryan spent three seasons in the Austrian league after completing a four-year (2007-2011) collegiate career at the University of Alberta.

While playing with the Golden Bears, he posted 207 points (86 goals, 121 assists) in 165 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) games, and helped to win a CIS title with the Bears in his rookie season (2007-08), as well as a finalist medal in 2009-10.

In being a part of four Canada West championship teams (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11), Ryan was named CIS (West) Most Valuable Player for the 2010–11 season, and was also named to the 2010–11 CIS All-Canadian First Team.

His junior career included playing parts of four seasons with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (2003-2007), the final two of which under current Hurricanes Head Coach Bill Peters – part of a WHL career that eventually had him recognized as one of the Top 50 Spokane Chiefs in the past 50 years.