Yesterday we had the reaction from the Ottawa side with the trade both teams had on Friday. Today we got Ryan Murphy from Mile High Hockey to dish the dirt on the Sabres/Avs deal. Enjoy and tell a friend.
How do you feel about the trade?
I think I can speak for every Avs fan in that this trade is bittersweet. Ryan O’Reilly was our guy. 18-year olds drafted in the 2nd Round don’t make a lot of hockey teams around the NHL, and he endeared himself to the fan base immediately with his tenacity and developed two-way game. For six seasons, he was a player you could trust to get the job done against opposing top lines and make his linemates better. That said, his contract demands became extremely cumbersome over the years, as a fan, to endure. Ryan O’Reilly’s game is not well-represented by traditional statistics, and fans (and likely management!) had a hard time reconciling the dollar figures coming from his camp with his point production. His humble demeanor and affable personality have made the entire situation that much harder to understand from this side of the glass.
What are the pros and cons to O’Reilly’s game?
A tireless defensive center, who is as effective in the neutral zone as anyone in the league. His takeaways at center ice are, at times, downright criminal. Not an elite skater, but it’s an area that improved immensely since coming into the league. Unsurpassed work ethic, great vision, great handle (check out his stick curve!), and terrific strength on the puck. No one on the Sabres will get to the gym earlier and work harder on his game. Cons? Despite being a strong possession player, he doesn’t have a long track record of point production. Isn’t enough of a scorer to be a natural 1st line power play guy.
Can he be a #1 center or do you see him more as a 2nd line guy?
Ryan O’Reilly is a #1 center. Not as a primary scorer or the guy who is going to fill your highlight reel, but he’s going to take on every other team’s top line, win faceoffs in tough situations, and be a complimentary piece to your top wings. Scoring over 20 goals only once makes one skeptical, but he truly is a top-line center for any other reason.
Why did his numbers fall last year?
The entire team saw a drop in production last year. After 112-point season in 2013-14, it was easy to forget the Avalanche were a young team with plenty to improve. Last season’s results were a bit of a market correction. O’Reilly, specifically, moved back to center after playing on Matt Duchene’s wing the year prior. The increased defensive responsibilities and focus on facilitating for linemates Gabriel Landeskog and (mostly) Nathan MacKinnon shifted his priorities a good amount. Statistically, his shooting percentage fell from 13.4% in 2013-14 to 9.9%, a number closer to his career average. O’Reilly isn’t going to be an 80+ point scorer in the league. His skills and usage will likely limit him to the 65 point per year range. More importantly is how he improves the play of his linemates and decreases his opponents’ scoring opportunities.
Should Sabres fans be worried about his stats being a byproduct of his linemates?
This is a question many Avs fans have asked themselves. Colorado has has two really good possession players in the last three years who have mostly played together, O’Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog, so it’s natural to wonder if one may be carrying the other. My suspicion is they are both contributing to this success quite a bit. O’Reilly’s game is versatile enough to play with a lot of different kinds of players, and even shift positions. I imagine he can step in between, say, Ennis and Eichel and instantly make them better. Having a centerman with that kind of defensive ability allows allows the wings to play that much more aggressively in the offensive zone.
What are the pros and cons of McGinn’s game?
McGinn has been one of my favorite players to watch since he’s joined the team. He’s more of a 3rd line power forward, but doesn’t look out of place filling in top-line minutes. He has a very capable scoring touch, is effective on the forecheck, and doesn’t shy away from physical challenges. One of the easiest players in hockey to cheer for and a guy everybody should want on their roster. I was elated upon hearing the initial framework of this deal, but recoiled just a little bit when I heard McGinn’s name was added too. If there’s a knock about McGinn, it’s that he hasn’t been able to stay healthy — and after back surgery last season, it’s not unfair to wonder what his status will be moving forward. He’s also an unrestricted free agent after next year; and with a 19-goal season under his belt, he will make enough money to give you pause.
I read he’s the type of player to go to the net, is that accurate?
Definitely. The Avalanche don’t have a lot of these kinds of players and losing Jamie McGinn for the majority of last season really left a void in this particular area. He doesn’t quite have the touch to put in a bunch of deflections like the top power forwards in the league, but he has the size and wherewithal to get the job done in this role. Because of this, McGinn has see some power play time and played quite a bit in the Top-6 the past couple of years. He’s a nice rough-and-tumble complement to higher skilled players.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Ryan O’Reilly is a player the Avs would have preferred to keep. He grew up in the organization and management imagined him being an important part of their success in the coming years. The contract disparity was really too much to handle, though. When captain Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene both sign salary cap-friendly deals, I’m not sure what kind of person can look Hall of Famer Joe Sakic in the eye and ask for so much more. That said, we all wish him the best and are glad he’s playing in the East. We’re also pretty pleased with the return and are excited move forward with the pieces that were added. This team’s resources are better allocated toward a defenseman of Zadorov’s caliber and we believe Patrick Roy can get the best out of Grigorenko, like he did for the Remparts, who will now try to make his make as a big wing.
Also, McGinn camp into camp a little heavy before his 2nd season with the Avalanche, which was hardly even a thing, but he’s been lovingly known as Fatty or Mc-(insert food item) by the fan base ever since. This cannot stop — I’m serious. It is essential that it persists. Buffalo wing shortage? McGinn’s fault. Eichel looking a little thin? Oh, it’s because he’s on a line with McGinn. And so forth. It’s the best running joke we have in our community and I’m not sure what we’re going to do without it. Please take care of it!
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