Ryan O’Reilly Contract Update
In asking the proper authorities tonight, it is confirmed: talks are still ongoing with Ryan O’Reilly. There was little to no contact for several days, but O’Reilly’s agents – Mark Guy and Pat Morris of the Newport Sports Agency in Ontario – did speak with Avalanche management today – presumably Greg Sherman.
That’s all I have for now. Don’t know if it was positive or negative, the talks. But I don’t think there’s any question that it’s a positive that talks are still happening at all. By my accounts, they had been very chilly previously. They still may be. Obviously, there is no deal yet.
I reported a couple weeks ago that the Avs’ offer to O’Reilly on a five-year deal was $17 million. That was true. Has it come up any? Not sure.
But the reason why O’Reilly wants more than that is because year 5 of any deal he might sign would include his first year of unrestricted free agency eligibility. At an average of $3.4 million on such a deal, it is argued on the O’Reilly side that that number doesn’t adequately address that first year of UFA. In effect, they say, the Avs need to recognize that there is a premium to be paid for that first year of UFA. And I think that argument is fair.