Canadiens should not pursue Ryan O’reilly in draft – Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens have been hit hard by injuries, and whenever the team starts to look a little down, trade rumors naturally start to float. This week, those rumors gained a lot of traction when Ryan O’reilly’s name suddenly came up as a possible trade option.
Nashville Prentrators general manager Barry Trotz has been open this week that other top players are available, and with TSN Insiill Pierre LebrUn confirming that the Canadiens will wonder if the Canadiens can move. The mind is tested; O’reilly is a respected veteran center with leadership qualities and playoff pedigree that would fill a need. But temptation does not always mean understanding. In this case, the cost will exceed the benefit.
The O’reilly rumor
Spark came straight from the trotz. At the time, he acknowledged that some of his top-six stars are still available, opening the door to trade talks before the deadline. At those words, Oreilly began to spin.
Lebrun also confirmed that O’reilly is generating interest among teams that want to strengthen the center. It makes sense. He is a proven winner, a center of selke-calibres altiber, who elevates his partners financially in formation and leadership. More surprisingly, it is not pure recruitment. He has one season after this with his contract, worth $4.5 million per year, a reasonable cap cut for the veteran with his record.
But trotz doesn’t mind giving him away. The reported asking price of the first round pick and hope, a clear sign that Nashville values ​​what O’reilly brings to the ice. They are willing to talk, but only if the group meets that price. With the Canadiens missing players and struggling to stay competitive, speculation quickly turned to GM Kent Hughes and whether they would be willing to pay that price.
O’Illy It will fill a need
To be fair, this realo is not without merit. Even though the Canadiens have long-term depth at center, their injury situation is certainly difficult. Both Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach were out for a long time, forcing the training staff to re-use the lines and place the wingers in the middle sections more than is appropriate. While Nick Suzuki has taken on a surprisingly increased load, the team’s structure has taken an overall hit.
This is where O’Eilly can fit in perfectly. He thrives in tight games, wins decooffs, kills penalties, and contributes solidly in a middle-six role – something Montreal lacks at the moment. His 16 points in 23 games show he can still produce, and his experience will quickly strengthen the line.
He will also bring diamond leadership to an area where most of Montreal’s young players are still learning. Right now, the team is struggling with inconsistency and growing pains, and O’reilly’s presence could make a noticeable difference. It is not difficult to see him focus on a reliable two-way line, reduce the pressure on Suzuki, and allow the trained staff to measure the matcoups effectively.
Is it a good trade for O’reilly?
No, it shouldn’t. Not at the asking price. Montreal has the assets to land O’reilly, with multiple draft picks in the upcoming draft and one of the NHL’s deepest prospect pools. But just because doesn’t mean it should.
The Canadiens are still a young, developing team. Their core, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Ivan Demidov, are built for the future, not the present. Even though they’ve been competitive this season, they’re not there to add a 34-year-old center they should call a round pick and prospect. That’s the kind of move the competition makes, not the rebuilt team.
Related: It could be time for the Canadiens to move on from Joshua Roy
O’reilly will help in the short term, especially with injuries, but he did not turn Montreal into a playoff lock, let alone the competition, and when the season will end, and where there may be a few steps left before. Ultimately, O’Iilly fits the needs of the present, but not the plan for the future. That’s why HUGHES must resist the temptation, no matter how the rumors sound.
