The Colorado Avalanche should reunite with a former longtime star in a speculative trade.
In a December 24 piece in The Athletic, insiders Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston had a go at matchmaking potential trade targets with the best destinations.
Among the names on the list is Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly. The veteran forward has been on the block for quite some time. Talk has picked up particularly since the Preds haven’t had the success they hoped for.
As such, the rumor mill had linked O’Reilly to just about every contender in the NHL. But there’s one team that hasn’t really gotten much attention until now: The Avalanche.
Johnston picked Colorado as the destination for O’Reilly. Now, the rationale is not because the Avalanche NEED O’Reilly. It’s because a reunion would be too good to pass up. Johnston explained:
“O’Reilly doesn’t have a no-trade, but the Predators intend to treat him as if he does. Do you know what may compel a guy to jump off the ship and give the team the go-ahead to look at moving him?
The chance to go home again. At least in a manner of speaking. The Avalanche drafted O’Reilly and gave him his NHL start as a teenager, and they’ve now got room to add up the middle during a season where they’re all-in chasing a Stanley Cup. It has the makings of a comfortable situation for all involved.”
Johnston expanded on his thoughts by discussing O’Reilly’s role in Colorado:
“Now, it would require O’Reilly to embrace a reduced role from the one he currently has in Nashville, with Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson slotted ahead of him in the Avs lineup. But the chance to join the league’s top team in a full-circle transaction might make that more palatable.”
The biggest advantage of having O’Reilly is he could slide into a wing spot or take up a center slot. He could be the ultimate jack of all trades in the Avalanche forward group. That situation could make him a highly desirable piece. Moreover, it could be enough to convince him to assent to trade.
As for the cost, Johnston didn’t get into that. But you would think that the Predators would want something substantial in return. Nashville would be looking for a younger roster player to aid in the club’s rebuild.
That situation might make this trade an impossibility. But then again, heading to the best team in the NHL may be too good to pass up for O’Reilly. So, the Predators may end up getting coaxed into the deal.
The challenge will be clearing enough cap space for O’Reilly’s $4.5 million cap hit. That’s why a significant roster piece may have to go in this deal.
Considering the number of teams reportedly looking to add O’Reilly, the Avs might get outbid. But then again, anything can happen.