During most negotiations with NHL players, they'll have a representative or agent looking after their best interests. However, some players decide to represent themselves since they are the best at knowing what they can contribute and what they want financially.
The deal also showed that he did not have trade protection included. Ryan played eighty games this season, scoring 13 goals with 7 assists for 20 points. He will continue to help the Oilers in the bottom 6 with penalty killing and a shutdown role.