Ryan O'Reilly Trade

Two-way centre and Conn Smythe winner who led the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup.

via Wikipedia: Ryan O'Reilly · see source

Ryan O'Reilly (born February 7, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre and alternate captain for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. O'Reilly was drafted 33rd overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft by the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he spent the first six seasons of his NHL career and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship. He is frequently referred to as one of the NHL's best two-way forwards, winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2019.

Quick Facts

Acquisition year: 2018
Previous team: Buffalo Sabres
Key achievement: Stanley Cup Champion (2019)
Leadership role: Team Captain (Appointed 2020)

Lore & Background

In 2015, O'Reilly was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, where he would play three seasons until being traded to the St. Louis Blues in 2018. With St. Louis, O'Reilly won the Stanley Cup in 2019 over the Boston Bruins and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2019 playoffs, later being named captain in 2020.

Reader's Guide

O'Reilly began playing at the major junior level for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after he was the recipient of the Jack Ferguson Award as the first overall selection in the 2007 OHL Draft. In his rookie season in 2007–08, O'Reilly put up a solid 52 points in 61 games and was named the Otters Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player while also earning Erie's nomination for the Bobby Smith Trophy. In the following year, he backed up his rookie year with 50 assists and 66 points in 68 games for the 2008–09 season, and his all-around game was noticed when he was named the Western Conference's best penalty killer.

Did You Know?

O'Reilly became the youngest player in Avalanche history to appear in a regular season game when he made the opening night roster for the 2009–10 season.
He led the NHL and set an Avalanche record with 101 takeaways in the 2011–12 season.
O'Reilly was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly conduct and sportsmanship in the 2013–14 season.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Ryan O'Reilly join the St. Louis Blues?

He was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2018. This move brought a proven two-way center to the franchise during free agency.

Did Ryan O'Reilly win a championship with St. Louis?

Yes, he helped lead the Blues to their first Stanley Cup victory in 2019 against the Boston Bruins. His performance was instrumental during that playoff run.

What individual honor did O'Reilly receive after the 2019 playoffs?

He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason. This recognized his critical contributions to winning the championship.

What leadership position did O'Reilly assume later in his Blues career?

He was named the team captain in 2020 following his successful first seasons with the club. This solidified his status as a core leader for the organization.