NHL Trade Deadline: 3 Teams That Should Cash in on Ryan O’Reilly

After a very memorable contact dispute, Ryan O’Reilly signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche last summer but is far from living up to his price tag. He is making $5.8 million this season and will get $6.2 million in 2015-16.  If a trade was not inevitable before, his nine goals and 18 assists in 50 games pretty much guarantees it.

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After a very impressive showing last season, the Avalanche look like a completely different team in 2014-15. The addition of Jerome Iginla was designed to help the team but they have actually gotten worse, much worse. Can you really blame Iginla though? Alex Tanguay sits atop the Avs’ roster with 34 points in 48 games, which seems completely off after the performances of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene last year. Toss in O’Reilly and this team looks like one of the most under-performing teams in the NHL. As the Avs turn things around and make a run for the playoffs, they are better off moving O’Reilly sooner rather than later.

One thing about O’Reilly is the talent is undoubtedly there. He scored two goals and four assists in seven playoff games last year and finished the regular season with 64 points. Even though he had great chemistry with his linemates last season, his exceptional play at both ends of the ice were hard to ignore. For this reason, O’Reilly is still considered a big commodity despite his lack of production, and there are several teams that could benefit from his services as the playoffs roll around.

In terms of cap space, the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres are great options, but they are clearly in development mode and could be looking to sell players rather than bring in another big contract for next season. The Sens already have a good group of forwards and the Sabres will look to build around their young talent moving forward. With that said, here is a look at three other teams that need to make a move for O’Reilly prior to the NHL trade deadline.

3. Nashville Predators

The Predators have always had a good group of defensemen and bottom-six forwards, which should help piece together an attractive offer for the Avs. The Preds are an up and coming team and a player like O’Reilly provides a nice boost on both sides of the ice. He is a versatile player who can play both down the wing or up the middle, which is great for a team that is always shuffling their top-9. They are definitely making the playoffs and are not in need of draft picks, so they can afford to lose some of their younger talent at the blueline if they must. When you consider what both teams need, this could be a match made in trade deadline heaven for both sides.

2. Arizona Coyotes

There seems to be a lot of positive reasons for this trading relationship to happen. The Avs are in the running for defensemen and the Yotes have a bunch. Keith Yandle could be on the move this year and Colorado would be a great fit. Even without the big names, the Yotes have a good amount of depth on the blueline and could provide an enticing package for the Avs to consider. It should also help that the Yotes are far away from playoff contention, which makes draft picks an even more attractive commodity for the long-term success of Arizona.

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1. Calgary Flames

Is there really a better fit? The Flames put in an offer sheet for him last year which forced the Avs to match. They are looking poised for a playoff appearance and a versatile addition to their top-six group is exactly what they need. They currently have the most cap space in the NHL and should be able to carry the contract with relative ease. With so many prospects, draft picks are surely available, but the Avs would want a safer bet for an already proven player. Mikael Backlund, Mason Raymond or Curtis Glencross could be in the mix, but it all comes down to what the Flames are willing to lose as they make a run for the NHL playoffs.

As mentioned, a trade involving O’Reilly prior to the NHL deadline is pretty much certain. The biggest question will be what the Avs expect in return. If they want to make a push for the playoffs, getting a much needed boost in defense may be the best way to go. Jeremy Lambert of Mile High Sticking reported that the Avs have been linked to names like Yandle, Tyler Myers and Cody Franson. All three options are great additions to the blueline and would definitely cover the asking price of O’Reilly. In the end, it will come down to where the Avs want to be this season and what they are willing to take for the inevitably-gone O’Reilly.