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As long as the contract dispute dragged out between Ryan O’Reilly and the Colorado Avalanche, most assumed that it would end in the two sides separating. But the Avalanche kept their demands high, and they ended up matching the offer sheet that O’Reilly signed with the Calgary Flames, rather than trading him.
The contract went for two years and $10 million total. Most scoffed at the idea of paying O’Reilly five million a year, even if it came on a short term deal. That negative speculation came despite O’Reilly constantly flashing his status as one of the game’s emerging centers for Colorado.
It took a couple of games for O’Reilly to get back into the swing of things, but he has been incredibly consistent on an otherwise awful Avalanche club. Aside from the likes of Matt Duchene and P.A. Parenteau, O’Reilly has been the best forward on the Avs since his return to the lineup.
In 26 games this season, O’Reilly has 17 points. He’s currently sixth in points on the team, despite playing in less games, and could very well end up in third, trailing only Duchene and Parenteau, before the year is over.
Aside from a six-game point drought, O’Reilly has been incredibly consistent. He hasn’t gone more than two games without points other than that scoreless streak, and had a four-game point streak towards the end of March that included three two-point performances.
O’Reilly is also winning 52 percent of his draws. When you consider each aspect of the game, he continues to prove why signing him to that contract, regardless of the dollars involved. It will be interesting to see what he can do with a deeper, and higher quality, lineup around him next season.
