Brennan Vogt
We all know the history with Ryan O’Reilly. His contract negations then trade to Buffalo and traded again to St. Louis. But it sounds like O’Reilly has found a home and is finally happy where he is as the captain of the Blues. The contract extension for the Avalanche may have left a bad taste in some fans’ mouths, but he has moved on.
First, let’s start with his time (in a way) in Colorado. He was asked about his thoughts on the passing of Peter McNab and here is what he had to say.
“Yeah, It was obviously such awful news. He was a great man and a guy that loved the game. You could tell, he just loved being around the room and coming over and you just loved it. He had that kind of infectious personality, he was great guy and brought that energy around. It was just such sad news. He will be missed for sure.
On talking to McNab early in his career:
“Just those first few years, sometimes I was getting a little too anxious he would tell me ‘Just keep doin’ what you’re doing’. He was so Nice like that. You could tell that he just loved the game. He was always there to give that little push,” O’Reilly said.
Like any hockey player, O’Reilly was disappointed that he lost in the playoffs last year, let alone to his former team. He feels that it maybe a little it of a revenge game for tonight, even if it isn’t the playoffs. On facing a team that is missing so many players:
“They are such a great team, and still are a great team and have so much depth. They play hard and there it is never an easy game against them.”
It has been thrown around that with the Blues’ early struggles, that O’Reilly might be moved to another team. It has even been suggested Dater and others that he might be traded to the Avalanche. I asked him what he thought about his name being tossed around:
“I haven’t heard that. It’s funny I don’t really have social media or any of those things, so I don’t look into too much. This is where I want to be. I believe in this team and I believe in myself here. I think we are a team that can contend for a cup and I want to be a part of that. You know, it is what is, there’s rumors flying around everywhere and I don’t pay any attention to it (chuckling)”
I even threw out there that the Avalanche have been in the conversation among media members:
“That’s a very tough question. I can’t even think of that you know, I’m part of the Blues. That’s my team. I’m part of the Blues, I want be here, I still think we have a chance to win here and that’s the team that can do that.”
O’Reilly was struggling to even think of the idea of being traded let alone back to the team that drafted him in 2009. He could be a great addition to the third line up the middle or even the second line. His 52.4 winning percentage on faceoffs is something that the Avalanche are lacking in as well he defensive zone coverage (he finished fourth in Selke votes last year). The hardest thing that I can wrap my head around would be, what would he cost the Avalanche to obtain? He would be a unrestricted free agent next season, so he would be a rental. He obviously wants to be in St. Louis, but the team has nothing holding them back from making a move. Tell us what you think.