Roster Review: #90 Ryan O'Reilly

[dudacek]

Next up, the most expensive player in Sabre history

 

 

#90 Ryan O’Reilly F (one season left at $6 million per, then 7 more at $7.5 million per, age 24)

Colorado Avalanche 17/38/55/6/-5/12

 

Whatever your feelings are about O’Reilly – and everyone in the hockey world has them — he did accomplish something almost unheard of: he made the NHL immediately as an 18-year-old second-round draft pick.

 

In the past four seasons O’Reilly has averaged nearly 60 points over 80 games. He doesn’t take penalties and he never gets hurt. Everyone agrees he is a fine hockey player. They divide on whether he is an elite two-way leader and complete player who can be plugged into a variety of roles and situations and excel, or a good but greedy second-line mercenary who puts his pocketbook ahead of his team and lacks the game-breaking offence to ever be considered a first-liner.

 

The Sabres bet heavily on the former and the early returns weren’t good when he allegedly drove drunk into a Tim Horton’s within days of his acquisition. He arrives next month with a lot to prove, but definitely is a huge element in the anticipation for the coming season.

 

 

Links to the rest of the series:

Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/
Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/
Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/
Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/
Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/
Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/
Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/
Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/
Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabres...w-3-mark-pysyk/
Tim Schaller: http://forums.sabres...9-tim-schaller/
Matt Ellis: http://forums.sabres...-37-matt-ellis/
Cody Hodgson: http://forums.sabres...9-cody-hodgson/
Tyler Ennis: http://forums.sabres...63-tyler-ennis/
Chad Johnson: http://forums.sabres...3-chad-johnson/
Nick Deslauriers: http://forums.sabres...ck-deslauriers/
Cody McCormick: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23505-roster-review-8-cody-mccormick/
Rasmus Ristolainen: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23511-roster-review-55-rasmus-ristolainen/
Josh Gorges: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23515-roster-review-4-josh-gorges/
Matt Moulson: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23526-roster-review-26-matt-moulson/
Marcus Foligno: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23528-roster-review-82-marcus-foligno/
Zach Bogosian: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23530-roster-review-47-zach-bogosian/
David Legwand: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23537-roster-review-17-david-legwand/
Brian Gionta: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23544-roster-review-12-brian-gionta/
Zemgus Girgensons: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23556-roster-review-28-zemgus-girgensons/
Robin Lehner: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23560-roster-review-40-robin-lehner/

Mike Weber: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23569-roster-review-6-mike-weber/

Evander Kane: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23572-roster-review-9-evander-kane/

Carlo Colaiacovo and Matt Donovan: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23576-roster-review-carlo-colaiacovo-matt-donovan/

Jamie McGinn: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23581-roster-review-88-jamie-mcginn/

[Eleven]

Is he the most expensive in Sabres history per season?  I don't think so.  Overall contract maybe.

[dudacek]

Is he the most expensive in Sabres history per season?  I don't think so.  Overall contract maybe.

 

Overall contract $52.5 million.

Beats Vanek's $49 million.

Edited August 31, 2015 by dudacek

[Eleven]

Overall contract $52.5 million.

Beats Vanek's $49 million.

 

Yep.

 

Doesn't beat Dom's highest season though.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Eleven

[Derrico]

I know this is strange saying it now, after the DUI charge, but I still think this guy is future captain material.  Plays an all out game and reminds me of Captain Clutch Chris Drury.  He is young enough to be part of this core the duration of his remaining 7 years and will give Sam and Jack the time necessary to learn the pace of the game without being thrown into top line minutes.

[That Aud Smell]

I am very much looking forward to seeing ROR wear my favourite team's sweater. The DUI thing will get sorted out, and I trust that he'll have learned from the incident.

 

Onward.

 

*I struck "favourite" because that would suggest I have a #2 or #3 team.

Edited August 31, 2015 by That Aud Smell

[Eleven]

I am very much looking forward to seeing ROR wear my favourite team's sweater. The DUI thing will get sorted out, and I trust that he'll have learned from the incident.

 

Onward.

 

*I struck "favourite" because that would suggest I have a #2 or #3 team.

 

It would also suggest that you are Canadian.

[dudacek]

Yep.

 

Doesn't beat Dom's highest season though.

 

What was Dom's highest?

And was it more than Ehrhoff made in his first year? 

Wasn't that like $10 or $12 million?

[Eleven]

What was Dom's highest?

And was it more than Ehrhoff made in his first year? 

Wasn't that like $10 or $12 million?

 

I think Dom was 8.5 and good call on Ehrhoff.

[qwksndmonster]

I think Dom was 8.5 and good call on Ehrhoff.

Myers made like 10 mil on July first when his extension kicked in.

[JohnnyK]

I for one love this move, (to get ROR)...it reminds me of the Bennett move for the Bills in the early 90s...a big bold move to build a winner not just a get there kind of team!!!

by the way I did not see it coming like everyone else...I was like "WOW"

He is the real deal

Go Sabres!!!

[Taro T]

What was Dom's highest?

And was it more than Ehrhoff made in his first year? 

Wasn't that like $10 or $12 million?

Dom's $35MM 4 year deal paid $7.5 in '98-'99; $18.5 over the next 2 (sure I've got the info on the split but don't feel like looking for it beyond Google); final year (that Detroit paid) was $9.