Report: Avalanche Begin Trade Discussions With Eastern Conference Teams About Ryan O'Reilly

Report: Avalanche Begin Trade Discussions With Eastern Conference Teams About Ryan O’Reilly

by NESN Staff on Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 2:13PM

It sounds like the mess in Colorado surrounding Ryan O’Reilly may be coming to an end soon. However, it also appears that the forward is on his way out as a result.

The restricted free agent remains unsigned, and it appears that the Avalanche will now try to trade the 22-year-old.

TSN reports that the Avalanche have already begun discussions with Eastern Conference teams about the possibility of trading O’Reilly, who has yet to hit the ice this season as the saga drags on and gets uglier with each passing day. According to TSN, the initial price for O’Reilly appears to be a roster player and a top prospect.

The Denver Post’s Adrian Dater wrote Tuesday night that it now looks to be a “virtual certainty” that the Avs will trade the center, adding that things have gotten personal and “now there appears to be no turning back.”

Dater describes O’Reilly as a “22-year-old heart-and-soul, two-way center, an absolute rink rat.” The Denver scribe also tweeted this on Tuesday night about O’Reilly’s value.

One shocked NHL player tells me about O'Reilly: "Top 5 two-way center in NHL right now"
—
(@adater) February 13, 2013

O’Reilly made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in 2009, and he’s played at least 74 games in each season he’s been in the league. He experienced his best season last year when he scored 18 goals and added 37 assists in 81 games.

Photo via Twitter/@Ryan_OReilly90