Dreger doesn't believe Leafs are "strongly going after Ryan O'Reilly"

Darren Dreger was on Toronto’s TSN 1050 on Tuesday evening.

On Ryan O’Reilly and the Leafs:

“We have to be careful here. It’s a dangerous time of year where we all love to speculate, right? ‘This trade makes sense for this reason.’ Even though there may not be even a hint of reality attached to it. It’s just good fodder for conversation.

“I don’t believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are strongly going after Ryan O’Reilly. That doesn’t mean that they won’t. It doesn’t mean that they don’t have some interest. But they’re as keenly aware of the facts as anyone. He’s an unrestricted free agent in a year and a half. And based on what he’s earning now, can they really afford to bring in a big number like that?

“And to acquire Ryan O’Reilly now, you’re right – Colorado is going to want a considerable asset. They’re looking for defence. We know now that Erik Johnson is out 3-8 weeks. So there’s another hole they’re going to have to try and fill.

“I’m not saying Toronto isn’t a fit. They don’t appear to be a fit for me. And when this story kind of percolated last week, the message I got from Toronto was, ‘Look, we haven’t talked to Colorado in over a month. And it was on something unrelated.’

“So we have to be careful of that kind of stuff. But I believe in Ryan O’Reilly. I think he’s a good hockey player.”

Source: TSN 1050/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

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