On the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Ray Ferraro was on TSN 690 and was talking about the Montreal Canadiens and their need for a centerman. One player Ferraro thinks the who could be available and who the Canadiens should look at is Sabres Ryan O’Reilly.
“He is a really good player. He’s a better centerman than Montreal has. He’s not necessarily a No. 1, he’s probably a No. 2. He takes over 2000 faceoffs. He gets 50 points. He’s a penalty killer. He’s a power play guy.”
Bob McKenzie was on TSN 690 and was talking about the Sabres. GM Jason Botterill is looking to make a change and adjust the culture. O’Reilly will be one of the options they will explore moving, but they aren’t going to just give him away.
“And again, I don’t know how eager – I understand what Ray is saying, and in a vacuum I agree 100 percent. I mean, Ryan O’Reilly would be an absolute godsend to the Montreal Canadiens because of the various things he does and the fact he’s a natural center. The fact that, if I remember correctly, played in the World Cup. He can be an elite shutdown guy who has also got some offensive ability and is one of the better faceoff men in the game.”
McKenzie adds that he isn’t sure how eager the Sabres would be to trade him to a division rival. The Sabres would likely have to take some salary back in a deal.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger was on WGR 550 and was also asked about Ryan O’Reilly’s future with the Sabres. GM Botterill knows they have to change the direction of the team. Sense in Buffalo is that they will listen to offers on O’Reilly and some of their core, but it would take a big deal for them to move O’Reilly.
“Now in saying that, he’s a hell of a player. On pretty much every team in the league he’s at worst a No. 2 center, isn’t he. So there’s going to be a market for Ryan O’Reilly and I feel like Jason Botterill is going to have some tough decisions that he’s going to have to make specific to O’Reilly because there will be a bit of a feeding frenzy, I would think, in Dallas at the draft.”
