Around the League - Offseason Edition

[hockeywiz542]

O'Reilly on his time in Toronto, why he chose Nashville and if reports of why he left Leafs are true - TSN.ca

New Nashville Predators centre Ryan O'Reilly joins First Up to discuss what it's like to join the Predators, his time with the Maple Leafs, being a first-time free agent, why he picked Nashville, being an ambassador for next year's Smilezone Foundation charity golf tournament and more.

Ryan O’Reilly on leaving Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency: ‘Not an easy decision’ | TSN

Ryan O’Reilly told TSN 1050’s First Up with Carlo Colaiacovo and Aaron Korolnek on Monday that it was difficult leaving his hometown team after enjoying his late-season stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

www.tsn.ca

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in Toronto. But that was one thing I thought in my career – I had an opportunity to go to free agency to see what may come of it and I’m very happy with the decision I made. And I’m so excited to join Nashville. It’s a stressful process, but I’m so glad it worked out.”

Pat Morris of Newport Sports – O’Reilly agent’s – joined First Up earlier on Monday and shed some light on an eventful past few months for his client.

................

Morris and O’Reilly each acknowledged there was mutual interest in returning to Toronto on a new deal.

“There was certainly a lot of time spent. Kyle Dubas was the one who traded for him, and Kyle ended up leaving for Pittsburgh. Brad Treliving came in and expressed at an interview with Ryan face to face that went very well,” Morris said.

“That caused Brandon Pridham, their negotiator, to sit down with me for a lot of different sessions and we got to a conclusion that there were some economics that were in the right direction, and the closer free agency got, Ryan looked at what his options might be. We reviewed all 32 teams in the league to see where there might be a really good fit – obviously Toronto had a really good fit. There were other teams, and in the end, he made a personal decision.”

O'Reilly was among the Predators' additions on July 1, with fellow veterans Luke Schenn and Gustav Nyquist also signing in Nashville. He said last week that he couldn’t be more excited for his next chapter.

"I think the veteran players that are here right now, the way they impact the game is so impressive," O'Reilly told NHL.com on Thursday. "I think, too, watching last year and the youth, and what they do, there's a great balance of both."

"Me coming here, I think it was something I look forward to. I think we can take a step and be right there competing for the [Stanley] Cup."

 

[BertCorbeau]

Pridham's the negotiator... interesting

 

[Mess]

Pridham's the negotiator... interesting

Your Capologist has to be a big part of the talks to make all these contracts fit in a very limited cap space.

 

[tmlms13]

O'Reilly on his time in Toronto, why he chose Nashville and if reports of why he left Leafs are true - TSN.ca

New Nashville Predators centre Ryan O'Reilly joins First Up to discuss what it's like to join the Predators, his time with the Maple Leafs, being a first-time free agent, why he picked Nashville, being an ambassador for next year's Smilezone Foundation charity golf tournament and more.

Ryan O’Reilly on leaving Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency: ‘Not an easy decision’ | TSN

Ryan O’Reilly told TSN 1050’s First Up with Carlo Colaiacovo and Aaron Korolnek on Monday that it was difficult leaving his hometown team after enjoying his late-season stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

www.tsn.ca

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in Toronto. But that was one thing I thought in my career – I had an opportunity to go to free agency to see what may come of it and I’m very happy with the decision I made. And I’m so excited to join Nashville. It’s a stressful process, but I’m so glad it worked out.”

Pat Morris of Newport Sports – O’Reilly agent’s – joined First Up earlier on Monday and shed some light on an eventful past few months for his client.

................

Morris and O’Reilly each acknowledged there was mutual interest in returning to Toronto on a new deal.

“There was certainly a lot of time spent. Kyle Dubas was the one who traded for him, and Kyle ended up leaving for Pittsburgh. Brad Treliving came in and expressed at an interview with Ryan face to face that went very well,” Morris said.

“That caused Brandon Pridham, their negotiator, to sit down with me for a lot of different sessions and we got to a conclusion that there were some economics that were in the right direction, and the closer free agency got, Ryan looked at what his options might be. We reviewed all 32 teams in the league to see where there might be a really good fit – obviously Toronto had a really good fit. There were other teams, and in the end, he made a personal decision.”

O'Reilly was among the Predators' additions on July 1, with fellow veterans Luke Schenn and Gustav Nyquist also signing in Nashville. He said last week that he couldn’t be more excited for his next chapter.

"I think the veteran players that are here right now, the way they impact the game is so impressive," O'Reilly told NHL.com on Thursday. "I think, too, watching last year and the youth, and what they do, there's a great balance of both."

"Me coming here, I think it was something I look forward to. I think we can take a step and be right there competing for the [Stanley] Cup."

Sounds like a lot of BS in there.

Preds gave him the most money and term so he went there. If he really wanted to come back he would have. He's not going to win a cup there unless Saros steals them one.

I actually thought Nashville was going to blow it up with all that dead cap space coming. No team serious about contending would do that. in 24 25 they will have 12m in dead cap.

Duschene and Johanson still do provide something even if it's not as much as they used to and they traded ekholm at the deadline. Doesn't make sense for a contending team.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

O’Reilly has been known to chase money in his career, I’m not surprised. He’s gotten a cup and this and Schenns contracts are likely their last big payday opportunities.

He did seem to like it here though.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I don't know why anyone would miss him, tbh. He had 2-3 good games, but much of his time with us, he looked very slow and incapable of making a good pass. Just really out of place on a fast paced team that can whip the puck around.

Let him go and lumber around in a Trotz system, much better fit.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[PromisedLand]

Sounds like a lot of BS in there.

Preds gave him the most money and term so he went there. If he really wanted to come back he would have. He's not going to win a cup there unless Saros steals them one.

I actually thought Nashville was going to blow it up with all that dead cap space coming. No team serious about contending would do that. in 24 25 they will have 12m in dead cap.

Duschene and Johanson still do provide something even if it's not as much as they used to and they traded ekholm at the deadline. Doesn't make sense for a contending team.

I am certain that in a year or two ROR will be dealt from the preds for futures as preds continue to build.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

End of the day, we need guys who want to be here and are capable of handling the fishbowl that is the Toronto market. If O’Reilly’s heart isn’t going to be entirely in it or he’s liable to crumble under the microscope then sayonara. Thanks for the memories.

 

[Fogelhund]

I am certain that in a year or two ROR will be dealt from the preds for futures as preds continue to build.

So he knows his game is in decline and didn’t want to have to face the amount of attention he’d get about that here? Am I reading that correctly?

 

[Stephen]

I really enjoyed Ryan O'Reilly's time in Toronto, but hey, maybe we side stepped a steep decline a la David Bolland when he went to Florida inexplicably after Nonis traded for him and tried to keep him.

It is a pity though. The guy seemed to handle the market so well yet seems like it wasn't for him.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

ROR is and has always been a good business man. Squeaking out as much money as possible throughout his career. Nothing wrong with that.
Hockey, sports today is just that way.

 

[Menzinger]

I really enjoyed Ryan O'Reilly's time in Toronto, but hey, maybe we side stepped a steep decline a la David Bolland when he went to Florida inexplicably after Nonis traded for him and tried to keep him.

It is a pity though. The guy seemed to handle the market so well yet seems like it wasn't for him.

The guy wants an easy retirement. No shame in that, he's always been a mercenary. But definitely makes me roll my eyes at all that earlier stuff where people were claiming about him "judging" the room ect.

 

[Stephen]

The guy wants an easy retirement. No shame in that, he's always been a mercenary. But definitely makes me roll my eyes at all that earlier stuff where people were claiming about him "judging" the room ect.

Yeah, I don't think we have a perfect room by any means...there's a lot not to like, a lot that is work in progress, etc.

but ROR also can't be the final word on the culture of a team just because he was here on a cameo for 2 months. We projected a lot on him and he's not the final word on good culture and leadership.

 

[andora]

So he knows his game is in decline and didn’t want to have to face the amount of attention he’d get about that here? Am I reading that correctly?

Unless there was a second part of the quote i missed.. no

 

[Leaf Rocket]

So he knows his game is in decline and didn’t want to have to face the amount of attention he’d get about that here? Am I reading that correctly?

People dont like to hear it but there is extensive media training at MLSE especially for the maple leafs. and it would not go well for him if he liked his bubble.

ROR was always a mercenary and proved that he will do whats best for him; there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Dekes For Days]

So he knows his game is in decline and didn’t want to have to face the amount of attention he’d get about that here? Am I reading that correctly?

Sounds more like he just didn't want to deal with the toxicity in this market. He already has a cup, so playing in the tax-free country music capital of the world as his career winds down probably seemed more desirable than constant death threats, attacks on his character, media harassment, and people dumping on his play if the Leafs didn't win the cup.

 

[Fogelhund]

Denis Malgin: Signs with Swiss team

Denis Malgin: Signs with Swiss team

www.cbssports.com

Malgin signed a five-year contract with the ZSC Lions of Switzerland's National League on Tuesday.

 

[Fogelhund]

WBS Penguins ink Sparks

theahl.com

Dubas signs Sparks... LOL

 

[DarkKnight]

To me this just shows his hubris and narcissistic personality. What a loser move.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Some strong opinions out there about an AHL goalie being signed to an AHL contract.

 

[Gabriel426]

The guy wants an easy retirement. No shame in that, he's always been a mercenary. But definitely makes me roll my eyes at all that earlier stuff where people were claiming about him "judging" the room ect.

I don’t think he said anything about the room that is new to us. We always suspect about the room
And Dubas’s actions confirm that over the past few years. ROR is pretty much the first person to come out and said it.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

I don't know why anyone would miss him, tbh. He had 2-3 good games, but much of his time with us, he looked very slow and incapable of making a good pass. Just really out of place on a fast paced team that can whip the puck around.

Let him go and lumber around in a Trotz system, much better fit.

I don't think the Leafs were a fast team and he still looked really slow compared to his teammates. He definitely needed help getting the puck up the ice and didn't seem like much of a threat in the offensive zone.

Maybe the injuries caught up to him last year, but he was having an awful season before the first injury. Not a huge loss

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I don't think the Leafs were a fast team and he still looked really slow compared to his teammates. He definitely needed help getting the puck up the ice and didn't seem like much of a threat in the offensive zone.

Maybe the injuries caught up to him last year, but he was having an awful season before the first injury. Not a huge loss

Agreed. People keep asking how we got better...well, we replaced Holl, ZAR, ROR with Domi, Bertuzzi and Klingberg. Finally some dudes who play with tempo.

This team was originally built to play at a high speed, and Dubas for some reason bent and brought in a lot of older, slower dudes.

Ideally we land 1 more top 4 D to push Gio out of the regular lineup.

 

[Stephen]

Agreed. People keep asking how we got better...well, we replaced Holl, ZAR, ROR with Domi, Bertuzzi and Klingberg. Finally some dudes who play with tempo.

This team was originally built to play at a high speed, and Dubas for some reason bent and brought in a lot of older, slower dudes.

Ideally we land 1 more top 4 D to push Gio out of the regular lineup.

Dubas spent a considerable amount of transactions on that NBA bench type of non event, forechecking bottom of the lineup guy. Noel Acciari was the best one, but before him we went through Riley Nash, Aston-Reese, Aube-Kubel, Mike Amadio (who turned out pretty well), Colin Blackwell, Nick Shore.