The fates of St. Louis Blues forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko have been in the news a lot this season. With the calendar soon flipping to 2023, some pundits are wondering if O’Reilly can be bought before the March 3 trade deadline.
The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun has revealed there is an expectation among several clubs that the Blues could listen to offers for O’Reilly in the new year. The 31-year-old center and captain is in the final season of a seven-year contract worth an average of $7.5 million annually. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
LeBrun believes Toronto Maple Leafs management had an internal discussion about O’Reilly. He also believes he would fit in well with the Colorado Avalanche. Eric Duhatschek shared that sentiment, noting that O’Reilly was drafted by Colorado and spent the first six seasons of his NHL career with the Avalanche.
O’Reilly has just 15 points in 32 games this season. However, he remains respected around the league for his leadership and two-way skills. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2019, helping the Blues win their first Stanley Cup, and also took home the Selke Trophy that season.
Cap Friendly indicates that O’Reilly does not have trade protection, giving the Blues a wide field of potential suitors. However, if they have suggestions, they can give their captain the destinations of his choice.
O’Reilly’s salary structure this season could also be a factor. He earns an actual salary of $6 million, but $5 million of that has already been paid as a bonus at the start of the season.
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