The Colorado Avalanche were rumored to be shopping Ryan O'Reilly for months and a deal finally was consummated between the Avs and the Buffalo Sabres for the gritty two-way forward in the moments leading up to the 2015 NHL Draft.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the deal. The compensation the Sabres were forced to surrender for O'Reilly was ample - young defender Nikita Zadorov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and J.T. Compher and the 31st pick in the draft. The Sabres also got Jamie McGinn.
"The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward Mikhail Grigorenko, forward J.T. Compher and a second-round pick (31st overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres. In exchange, the Avalanche traded forwards Jamie McGinn and Ryan O'Reilly to Buffalo," the Avalanche wrote in a release announcing the move.
"Zadorov, 20, was Buffalo's first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft. He appeared in 60 games as a rookie for the Sabres this past season, tallying 15 points (3g/12a) with 51 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman made his NHL debut early in the 2013-14 campaign, appearing in seven games (1g/0a) before returning to his junior team, the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He went on to be named to the 2014 OHL Second All-Star Team that spring."
A large reason for O'Reilly's availability was his uncertain contract status and the reportedly contentious negotiations he and his representatives had with Avs GM Joe Sakic just one season ago, prior to the two sides agreeing on a two-year bridge deal that carries a $6 million per season average. O'Reilly is set to enter the second year of the deal in 2015-16.
