Ryan O’Reilly Trade Talks Heat Up

Ryan O’Reilly’s up and down career with the Avs could be coming to an end.

As originally reported by Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet, the Avs have informed other teams that they are willing to entertain offers for O’Reilly.

I like O’Reilly and he is definitely one of the best 2-way centers in the league.

But he also seems to disappear from games and seasons.

I was a proponent of moving O’Reilly and keeping Paul Stastny two years ago.  2014-2015 was mainly about defensive struggles for the Avs again, but I believe the loss of Stastny hurt more than expected.

Freidman goes on to say that the Avs would be asking for a significant defenseman in return.  I think that is a fair opinion.

Is it likely to happen in the offseason?

I believe it will happen, but it is far from a done deal.

HNGN agrees with this:

It’s difficult to envision the Avalanche giving up on the 2014 Lady Byng-winner, whose 200-foot game rivals that of any other player, let alone center, in the league, but with O’Reilly having just finished the first year of a two-year bridge deal that pays him $6 million per season – a deal that reportedly was not easy to hammer out – and likely looking to cash in on a long-term extension sometime in the near future, Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy may really have little in the way of other options.

With Roy’s group having finished 22nd in the league in goals allowed per game, averaging 2.72 markers per contest, it’s clear where the deficiencies in the Avalanche lineup lie. The backend has been a trouble spot for them, even since their magical, Central Division-winning, 2013-14 season.

Sakic though, did say in April that he wanted O’Reilly signed to a contract extension.

Bob McKenzie told TSN that it will likely happen:

TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie told TSN Radio 1040 Vancouver Tuesday the Colorado Avalanche are testing the market for the centre, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

McKenzie says the odds are in favour of O’Reilly being traded, though a potential deal could hinge on a new contract.

“I think it’s more likely O’Reilly will be traded at some point here he’ll be traded,” McKenzie said. “But at the same time, it will depend on what the deal is and the financial negotiations that go on with any contract.”

McKenzie cautioned, however, a trade is not imminent ahead of the draft.

“If I were a betting man, I’d say Ryan O’Reilly is more likely to be traded, but it’s not a 100 percent slam dunk that it will happen before the draft or at all,” McKenzie concluded.

Time will tell.

Image courtesy of Sergei Scurfield.