Did Ryan O'Reilly just tip his hand and hint at a return to Toronto next season?
Since he was acquired by the Leafs ahead of the trade deadline, there was always a question of whether or not the Leafs would be able to talk Ryan O'Reilly into staying in Toronto beyond this season.
Things didn't work out the way either side was expecting, with O'Reilly suffering a broken finger shortly into his tenure in Toronto and missing a month of action after undergoing a surgical procedure to repair the damage. O'Reilly, however, was good to go in time for the playoffs, but after a thrilling Round 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Leafs were blown away by the Panthers in 5 games, with O'Reilly producing just 1 goal and 1 assist against Florida after notching 7 points against the Lightning.
When asked about his future in Toronto during the season-ending press conference, O'Reilly wouldn't commit one way or another to returning. Some viewed this as a shrewd negotiation tactic by a veteran O'Reilly and others suggested that he might have his sights set on a different destination - perhaps even returning to St. Louis. However, did a recent appearance at a suit store in Toronto provide us a glimpse into what O'Reilly might be thinking?
Tom's Place in Toronto posted a photo on Twitter on Wednesday, sharing that O'Reilly had come in to purchase a suit for a wedding he was planning to attend (perhaps for teammate Mitch Marner's upcoming wedding). In the post, they shared that O'Reilly, out of all of the options available to him, had chosen a blue suit and commented that they hoped it meant he would consider returning with the Leafs next season.
Honestly, this may be something and it may be nothing. After all, the Blues wear blue as well and with O'Reilly having captained the team for a number of years, it could just as easily mean that he plans to return to St. Louis this summer. However, with how highly he has spoken about the Leafs' organization since coming over in February, he may have come down with a little bit of the passion and could be looking to sign a deal to remain closer to home for the foreseeable future. We'll find out in the coming weeks as we approach free agency.
| POLL | ||
MAI 25 | 538 ANSWERS Did Ryan O'Reilly just tip his hand and hint at a return to Toronto next season? Will Ryan O'Reilly re-up with the Leafs this summer? | ||
| Yes | 308 | 57.2 % |
| No | 230 | 42.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
