Free agent Leaf hasn't closed the door on a return to Toronto
Ryan O'Reilly only got into 13 regular season games for the Leafs after he was acquired from St. Louis thanks to a broken finger, but he still registered 11 points in those 13 games. O'Reilly was brought in for his leadership, grit and to solidify the Leafs down the middle and he did exactly what he was supposed to do. Many thought and have believed since the season ended that he would sign somewhere else come July 1st as a UFA and possibly return to St. Louis, however, TSN's Pierre LeBrun provided a positive update about O'Reilly staying in Toronto yesterday on TSN 1050's OverDrive.
"When you heard O'Reilly on locker cleanout day it sounded like he was moving on, but what we found out yesterday was that O'Reilly and his camp have not closed the door on returning to the Leafs. On top of that, Brad Treliving has reached out to them and said they have interest in talking about it. Most Leaf fans thought he was gone, but he's got a pretty open mind about it. Treliving really likes O'Reilly and what he brings, but at the end of the day it would have to make sense in the cap puzzle for the Leafs. Both sides are supposed to talk again next week in Nashville."
That is good news for the Leafs and Leaf fans, but as LeBrun said, it all depends on the contract and what O'Reilly is looking for. There will be no shortage of interest in him and with a weaker than normal UFA class, he could cash in big time on one final deal.
The Leafs liked what O'Reilly brought to the room, and with how much Treliving likes him, Jamie McLennan believes that O'Reilly is the perfect fit for the Leafs right now given that they will have a handful of younger players and rookies like Matthew Knies in the lineup next season.
"I think Ryan O'Reilly is a perfect fit from a professional standpoint, from a human standpoint...and as far as being a role model for some of the younger players who are cycling through."
As Leaf fans, we can only hope that O'Reilly is willing to take one of those hometown discounts to stay in Toronto and he, his agent and Treliving can find a way to get something done at the draft next week.
