Dreger less convinced Avalanche's O'Reilly is in play

Darren Dreger was on Winnipeg’s TSN 1290 on Wednesday afternoon.

On the price for Ryan O’Reilly in a trade, and his price is to extend his contract and make him part of your team for the long run:

“Yeah, that’s a couple of great questions. I mean the price of extending his contract is going to be a big number. And what’s his qualifying offer – 6.5? He’s an unrestricted free agent in less than a year and a half now, so he’s going to want better than 6 and maybe as much as 7, depending on how he’s playing at that point.

“But any team that is negotiating on Ryan O’Reilly – and I’m not still convinced. I don’t know about you, but I’m not, that he’s going to be traded by Colorado. I know that Patrick Roy loves him. And for the Avs to move him out, even though they have some very specific needs, it would take a heck of a lot to get him back.

“Well if you’re that team that’s engaged in that negotiation, if you’re willing to pay the price to acquire Ryan O’Reilly, then absolutely – you’re going to want to know you’ve got a shot at extending him. Otherwise you’re not going to give up the assets required to make that deal.

"So as we creep closer to the deadline – never say never, when it comes to this time of year and the possibilities that exist this time of year on any player who may or may not be available. But the more I swirl around teams who would have interest in Ryan O’Reilly and the more I try and dig around the Colorado Avalanche, the less I’m convinced he’s actually in play.”

Source: TSN 1290/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

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