By Jordan Long
The St. Louis Blues made a trade they feel will boost their offense. They acquired center Ryan O’Reilly from the Buffalo Sabers. O’Reilly was one of the top centers for a poor Buffalo Sabers team that didn’t come close to making the postseason this past year with 62 points, the worst in the NHL. The Blues are hoping his offense will help the team reach the playoffs.
O’Reilly can play on the first or second line for the Blues. He has speed that will create scoring chances. If O’Reilly doesn’t light the lamp, he finds his teammates for goals. In his career O’Reilly has 155 goals and 267 assists for a total of 422 points.
O’Reilly should see some time on the power play and the power play kill. On the power play he is able to set-up in front of the goaltender to screen him from seeing the puck. This allows him to tip the puck in. He has 51 power play goals and 77 power play assists in his career.
On the power play kill O’Reilly steals the puck and is able to shoot it to the other end of the ice to kill time. If he has the opportunity, O’Reilly will skate into the offensive zone with his speed and has chances to score with a total of 6 shorthanded goals in his career.
This was a much needed deal for the Blues. With the addition of O’Reilly their offense is even more dangerous. According to ESPN, St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong said, “He’s got great passion for the sport. He’s got great passion to compete and to win and hopefully this gives him the boost that he feels is necessary that he can come in here and, quite honestly, we need that boost.”
O’Reilly has to be excited. He comes to a team that is ready to win now. He has not been to the playoffs since 2014 when he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche. O’Reilly will have that chance with the Blues. The Blues are hoping his experience will lead them to the playoffs.
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