Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray may have already pulled off the blockbuster trade of the NHL season, but don't for one second assume that he's done wheeling and dealing.
Murray, according to a report from TSN's Bob McKenzie, now has his sights set on acquiring Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly.
"Well, Buffalo is interested. And they were interested before. And they're still interested," McKenzie said, per NicholsOnHockey.com. "And I think Tim Murray is going to try everything within his power to make it happen. If he couldn't make it happen when he had Tyler Myers, I'm not sure that there's anything necessarily there that would make it easier. If anything, it would probably be more difficult if you're trying to get Ryan O'Reilly out of Colorado."
Murray, of course, stunned the NHL world earlier this month when he sent behemoth defenseman Tyler Myers, winger Drew Stafford, prospects Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux and a 2015 first-round NHL draft pick to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for embattled power forward in-the-making Evander Kane and blueliner Zach Bogosian.
With Myers, Murray's big - literally and figuratively - trade piece already gone, there may not be much on the Sabres roster with which Murray can entice the defensively deficient Avs into doing a deal for a player like O'Reilly - a guy coach Patrick Roy and GM Joe Sakic are reportedly entertaining offers for, but not actively shopping.
"Colorado is open to the notion, I think. I'd be shocked if it happens between now and the deadline, but it's not out of the question. But this summer I think certainly because of the financial implications of where O'Reilly's contract is going, and the fact that they need help in other areas more than they need Ryan O'Reilly - even though Patrick Roy loves rolling Ryan O'Reilly out the gate every shift he possibly can - it's probably not feasible to keep him long-term," McKenzie said.
"So therefore I think he will move in the summer, if not sooner."
O'Reilly has one more year remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $6 million - he'll likely look to upgrade prior to his next pending foray into unrestricted free agency.
He's a gritty two-way center who plays the game the right way so he's a highly sought after commodity, but the value for a guy like O'Reilly is oftentimes difficult to gauge.
He does the little things vital to NHL success - especially late in the regular season and the playoffs - but you can't really consider any specific aspect of his game elite.
