June 19, 2015
Michael Clifford
2015-06-19
Ryan O’Reilly, a couple of young defencemen with blocks ahead of them, and Dallas should improve next year.
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Ryan O'Reilly is apparently a priority for the Colorado Avalanche. I don't like using the word "underrated" (though I have and probably will again) so I will say that O'Reilly is an underappreciated player in the NHL. He doesn't miss games (12 in five 82-game seasons), he drives possession, can produce, and can play in all situations. At the age of 24, he's in his prime, and a six-year contract would net Colorado perhaps O'Reilly's best years of his career.
The one question I have is: how much is too much centre depth. Of course, Jordan Staal ended up being a key cog for Pittsburgh, and that wasn't found out until he was gone. Nathan MacKinnon did play some on the wing last year, but I assume the long-term plan is for him to stay at centre. Matt Duchene is already signed for four more seasons. Can this team go three deep down the middle with MacKinnon-Duchene-O'Reilly? Does one of them get moved to the wing? John Mitchell still has a couple of years left on his deal and he's no slouch either. He'd be a great fourth line centre, but could probably last as a third line centre.