Veteran center may not be the right piece for the Leafs at the deadline, no matter how much we want him to be
As we approach this year's NHL trade deadline, which is just over 4 weeks away, rumours of players who could potentially be on the move have already started to surface. Adding a key piece at the trade deadline could push your team over the edge. One player in particular that has been tied to the Toronto Maple Leafs is forward Ryan O'Reilly of the St. Louis Blues.
O'Reilly is a Stanley Cup Champion and Conn Smythe winner from 2019 when the Blues won the Cup. Since the 2020 season, he has been the Blues captain and brings leadership to their organization as a veteran player. With that said, O'Reilly is a pending UFA this offseason and a player the Blues are reportedly interested in moving on from.
Since early December, the Leafs have been one of the known teams who have shown interest in the three-time All-Star. Now the question arises, do the Leafs pounce on the chance to acquire him?
Well, the Leafs, as mentioned above, will be looking for that player to push them over the edge in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. One thing to consider is just how successful O'Reilly has shown to be in the playoffs. It took him time to get beyond the first round - nine seasons to be exact. Other than Tavares, the Leafs' core still has a few years to advance before they reach that nine-season mark.
In fairness to O'Reilly, he had played on some extremely poor teams in his tenure with the Colorado Avalanche and the Buffalo Sabres throughout those nine seasons. His drop-off has been quite noticeable this season, as he has just 16 points in 37 games. It's without a doubt that O'Reilly isn't the player he once was, but the Leafs don't need him to be.
With this acquisition, he could be the forward piece this team is looking for heading into the playoffs. He has proven he can get it done when it matters the most, especially over the last four postseasons. His value comes through his leadership, as in that magical 2019 Stanley Cup run with the Blues, he was not only a key contributor but a player vital to their winning culture. If the Leafs can get O'Reilly for a reasonable price, it might be too good an opportunity for this team to pass up.
The real concern here is how he'll look once he's back on the ice after suffering a broken foot. He's already been pretty quiet offensively this season and I'm sure that missing a month with a broken foot isn't doing him any favours. I don't envy GM Kyle Dubas with the decision he has to make here. However, if the goal is to succeed in the playoffs, we might do well to remember that before the fairy-tale run that the Blues went on in 2019, O'Reilly's results in the postseason were nothing to boast about - nor have they been since.
Credit: hockeydb.com
| POLL | ||
31 JANVIER | 167 ANSWERS Veteran center may not be the right piece for the Leafs at the deadline, no matter how much we want him to be Should the Leafs trade for Ryan O'Reilly at this year's trade deadline? | ||
| Yes, definitely | 58 | 34.7 % |
| No, I don't think so | 109 | 65.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
