The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari from the St. Louis Blues for Mikhail Abramov, Adam Gaudette, a first-round pick in 2023, a third-round pick in 2023 (from Ottawa) and a second-round pick in 2024. St. Louis is retaining 50% of O’Reilly’s salary, while Minnesota is taking another 25% of O’Reilly’s salary and receiving a 2025 fourth-round pick in return from Toronto. Right-wing prospect Josh Pillar also moves from Minnesota to Toronto.

From a pure scoring standpoint, O'Reilly is having his worst season since his rookie and sophomore seasons in Colorado a decade ago. Following a slow start of just one point in his first 10 games, O'Reilly had recorded points in all three games with the Blues since his return from a foot injury. His production has declined for the second consecutive season, which could be wear-and-tear-related since he is now 32 years of age and had made his NHL debut at 18.

The Leafs have acquired additional depth at center, as they already feature Auston Matthews and John Tavares at that position. Unless one of Matthews or Tavares is moved to the wing, O'Reilly could make his Leafs debut on the third line alongside Pierre Engvall and Calle Jarnkrok. They could also move O'Reilly to the wing, although they will want to utilize O'Reilly's consistent over-50% faceoff win rate at some capacity. The Leafs as a team could really benefit from receiving defensive-zone faceoffs from a former Selke Trophy winner in an inevitable matchup with Tampa Bay.

If O'Reilly is used as a third-line center, his fantasy value drops. But if he's used as a winger in the top 6, or if Matthews or Tavares is moved to wing to allow O'Reilly into the top 6, his fantasy value increases. If you're looking for definite improvement in some capacity, expect O'Reilly to be better in the plus-minus department (he is -24 this season).

With the usual five of Matthews, Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly likely to take up the forward spots, O'Reilly will likely find himself on the second power play. He has averaged second-unit power-play minutes anyway in St. Louis, but he would likely battle Michael Bunting for a spot on the first unit if one of the mainstays is injured. So probably no change there.

Don't forget about Acciari, who leads the Blues with 168 Hits and is a top-10 league option in that category. With 10 goals already and a 20-goal season under his belt, Acciari won't hurt a fantasy team's scoring that much either, although he is without a point in his past nine games. Expect him to slot in on the fourth line, but expect his icetime to drop (16:45 ATOI over last 10 GP).

Trading Vladimir Tarasenko and O'Reilly makes the Blues much thinner at forward. Their core four forwards based on cap hit, term, and last game's first power-play unit are now Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Robert Thomas. On the surface, Ivan Barbashev might appear to be one beneficiary of the trade, but he is a pending UFA who could also be traded by the deadline. Recently recalled from the AHL, 20-year-old Jake Neighbours could stick around for the rest of the season as a result of the Tarasenko and O'Reilly trades.

Fantasy Take: Rangers Acquire Tarasenko; Blues Get Blais

Players this helps, in order:

Jarnkrok

Engvall

Alexander Kerfoot

Neighbours

–

Players this hurts, in order:

O'Reilly (assuming he remains at center)

Bunting

Acciari

–

Fantasy leaguers are already discussing this trade on the Forum – give your take here!