| Ryan O'Reilly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 O'Reilly with theSt. Louis Blues in June 2019 | |||
| Born | (1991-02-07)February 7, 1991 (age 35) Clinton, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Nashville Predators Colorado Avalanche Metallurg Magnitogorsk Buffalo Sabres St. Louis Blues Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 33rd overall,2009 Colorado Avalanche | ||
| Playing career | 2009–present | ||
Ryan O'Reilly (born February 7, 1991) is a Canadian professionalice hockey player who is acentre andalternate captain for theNashville Predators of theNational Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for theColorado Avalanche,Buffalo Sabres,St. Louis Blues and theToronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. O'Reilly was drafted 33rd overall in the2009 NHL entry draft by theColorado Avalanche, with whom he spent the first six seasons of his NHL career. He is frequently referred to as one of the NHL's best two-way forwards, winning theFrank J. Selke Trophy in 2019.
In 2015, O'Reilly was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, where he would play three seasons until being traded to the St. Louis Blues in 2018. With St. Louis, O'Reilly won theStanley Cup in2019 over theBoston Bruins and was awarded theConn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the2019 playoffs, later being namedcaptain in 2020.
O'Reilly grew up playing hockey near his hometown ofVarna,Ontario, with the Seaforth Stars of theOntario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). He then moved up to the AAA level, playing for the Huron-Perth Lakers, alongside Ethan (The Hammer) Thor Livingston, of the Minor Hockey Alliance starting in Minor Atom in 2000–01. Touted as one of the most talented prospects to come out from the Lakers, O'Reilly then played one year of minor midget hockey with theToronto Jr. Canadiens in 2006–07 after playing six years of Lakers hockey.[1]
O'Reilly began playing at themajor junior level for theErie Otters of theOntario Hockey League (OHL) after he was the recipient of theJack Ferguson Award as the first overall selection in the 2007 OHL Draft.[2] In his rookie season in2007–08, O'Reilly put up a solid 52 points in 61 games and was named the Otters Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player while also earning Erie's nomination for theBobby Smith Trophy.[3] In the following year, he backed up his rookie year with 50 assists and 66 points in 68 games for the2008–09 season, and his all-around game was noticed when he was named the Western Conference's best penalty killer.[4]
After the 2008–09 OHL season, O'Reilly was drafted in the second round, 33rd overall, in the2009 NHL entry draft by theColorado Avalanche.[5] He became the youngest player in Avalanche history to appear in a regular season game when he surprisingly made the opening night roster for the2009–10 season.[6] He earned his first NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009, against theSan Jose Sharks, becoming the first non-first-round draft pick to immediately make the NHL in his first post-draft year sincePatrice Bergeron in2003–04.[7] O'Reilly later scored his first career NHL goal, a game-winner, on October 15 againstCarey Price of theMontreal Canadiens.[8] On October 19, following his strong start to the season, the Avalanche announced that O'Reilly and his fellow 2009 drafteeMatt Duchene would spend the entire season with the Avalanche.[9] Initially leading all rookie forwards in scoring through October, O'Reilly recorded an assist in a 3–1 victory over theDetroit Red Wings on October 24 to cap a seven-game point streak, which stood as the longest by a rookie throughout the season.[10]
Suffering an offensive plateau midway through the season, O'Reilly anchored his position as a top defensive forward and penalty killer. He led the Avalanche in ice time on the penalty kill, culminating in posting two short-handed goals during a double minor penalty against theColumbus Blue Jackets on February 2, 2010, to become the first Avalanche player in history to achieve two shorthanded goals in one game.[11] He finished his rookie season with the Avalanche with 26 points (eight goals and 18 assists) in 81 regular-season games before making hisStanley Cup playoff debut in a 2–1 victory over San Jose in Game 1 of theWestern Conference Quarterfinals on April 14. On April 18, he scored his first career playoff goal, scoring the game-winning tally in Colorado's Game 3 1–0 overtime victory over San Jose. He was credited with the goal after inadvertently deflecting Sharks defencemanDan Boyle's pass attempt from an improbable angle into the net past goaltenderEvgeni Nabokov to put the Avalanche ahead in the series, two games to one.[12]
In his second professional season in2010–11, O'Reilly remained entrenched on the shut-down third line for the Avalanche. On November 19, 2010, he appeared in his 100th NHL game, a 5–1 victory over theNew York Rangers.[13] In scoring eight goals in his last 18 games, O'Reilly was able to match his rookie season contribution of 26 points and led the team for a second consecutive season in takeaways, with 72.
In the following year,2011–12, having established himself as the leading defensive centre on the Avalanche, O'Reilly developed his two-way game and increased his offensive production playing alongside linemateGabriel Landeskog. This was recognized as he was named as the NHL's Second Star of the Week for November 28 to December 4 after contributing with seven points in four games, and was leading all Avalanche forwards in ice time.[14] On January 12, 2012, he appeared in his 200th career NHL game, scoring a goal in a 3–2 overtime defeat to theNashville Predators.[15] Despite the Avalanche missing the playoffs for a second-straight season, O'Reilly lead the NHL and set an Avalanche record with 101 takeaways. He also more than doubled his points output for his previous two seasons combined to finish as top scorer on the Avalanche with 18 goals and 55 points.[16]
As arestricted free agent in the off-season, O'Reilly's protracted contract negotiations with the Avalanche were halted by the expiredCollective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and theNHL Players' Association (NHLPA), which incurred the2012–13 NHL lock-out.[17] With the lock-out cancelling the start of the season, O'Reilly, in joining his brotherCal, signed a two-year contract with RussianKontinental Hockey League (KHL) clubMetallurg Magnitogorsk on December 7, 2012.[18] Unlike the exodus of NHL players joining European leagues on short-term contracts, O'Reilly signed a two-year contract with the conditional opt-out clause in returning to the NHL if an agreement with the Avalanche was met. O'Reilly made his debut for Magnitogorsk in a 5–3 victory overAtlant Moscow Oblast on December 19.[19]
Despite an end to NHL lock-out announced on January 12, 2013, O'Reilly was still unable to come to terms with the Avalanche and initially continued to play in Russia to miss the opening of the shortened2012–13 season. On January 24, citing an ankle injury suffered through his 12 games with Metallurg, he mutually terminated his contract in Russia and returned for rehabilitation to North America.[20] At an impasse with the Avalanche a month into the season, O'Reilly was training with the OHL'sLondon Knights when he ended his holdout on February 28 after signing a two-year, $10 millionoffer sheet with theCalgary Flames.[21] With a game coinciding between the two clubs on that day, the Avalanche announced during the contest that they opted to forgo compensation and secured O'Reilly to a contract by matching the Flames' offer sheet.[22] Due to O'Reilly having signed a contract with a KHL franchise, had Colorado not matched Calgary's offer sheet, he would have had to pass through waivers before returning to the NHL.
In the2013–14 season, under new Head CoachPatrick Roy, O'Reilly was moved to thewing to play alongside centre Matt Duchene and subsequently responded with a team-leading—and career-high—28 goals and 64 points in 80 games as the Avalanche returned to the playoffs. For the second time in his career, O'Reilly led the NHL in takeaways with 83 and, in recording just one penalty minor, was awarded theLady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly conduct and sportsmanship by the League.[23]
As an impending restricted free agent, and with past difficulties in contract negotiation, the Avalanche elected to take O'Reilly to a salary arbitration.[24] On July 23, 2014, O'Reilly and the Avalanche agreed to settle prior to the arbitration hearing after negotiating a two-year, $12 million contract.[25] During the2014–15 season, O'Reilly scored 17 goals and 38 assists for 55 points, also leading the Avalanche in average ice time per game, as Colorado failed to make the2015 playoffs.[26]
On June 26, 2015, the Avalanche traded O'Reilly, alongsideJamie McGinn, to theBuffalo Sabres in exchange forNikita Zadorov, forwardMikhail Grigorenko, prospectJ. T. Compher and the 31st pick in the2015 NHL entry draft.[27] On July 2, O'Reilly then signed a seven-year contract extension with Buffalo worth $52.5 million, which came into effect during the2016–17 season. O'Reilly's signing came on the same day as the Sabres organization signed his brother Cal O'Reilly to a two-year contract.[28] O'Reilly was immediately named an alternate captain upon his arrival in Buffalo. The Sabres improved in O'Reilly's first season, after finishing last in league standings the previous two seasons. O'Reilly led the team offensively with 60 points.
On April 7, 2018, O'Reilly surpassedRod Brind'Amour for most faceoff wins in a single season (1,269) in a 4–3 loss to theFlorida Panthers.[29] At the end of the2017–18 season, O'Reilly was named aLady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist as the league's most gentlemanly player.[30] In spite of his personal success, the Sabres failed to qualify for the NHL playoffs during his tenure, resulting in O'Reilly admitting he began to lose his love of the game.[31] His comments seemed to polarize fans in Buffalo, with many subsequently labeling O'Reilly a cancerous presence on the team, while others defended his remarks and agreed that the Sabres had become complacent with losing.
On July 1, 2018, O'Reilly was traded to theSt. Louis Blues in exchange forTage Thompson,Vladimír Sobotka,Patrik Berglund, a2019 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick.[32] Although O'Reilly experienced a career-high season with the Blues, the team fell to last place around the entire league by January 2, resulting in a coaching and goaltender change.[33] As the Blues rebounded, O'Reilly enjoyed a career year in his first year in St. Louis, achieving career highs in assists and points and tying his career high in goals.[34] He was invited to his second careerNHL All-Star Game, where he registered seven points through two games and was a finalist for the All-Star Game MVP, ultimately losing the award toSidney Crosby.[35]
As the Blues qualified for the2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, O'Reilly became the first player to score a goal in four consecutiveStanley Cup Finals games sinceWayne Gretzky in1985.[36] He was awarded theConn Smythe Trophy after recording a franchise-record 23 playoff points[37] as the Blues won their firstStanley Cup in franchise history, defeating theBoston Bruins 4–1 in game 7 of the2019 Stanley Cup Finals.[38] For his excellent two-way play during the season, O'Reilly won theFrank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward on June 19, 2019, overPatrice Bergeron of theBoston Bruins andMark Stone of theVegas Golden Knights.[39]
Although the2019–20 regular season ended three weeks early than it was supposed to due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, O'Reilly continued his success with the Blues and recorded 61 points in 71 games.[40] Due to the loss ofVladimir Tarasenko to injury, O'Reilly was appointed an alternate captain for the team on October 31, 2019.[41] On January 11, 2020, O'Reilly, as well as fellow Blues teammatesAlex Pietrangelo,Jordan Binnington, andDavid Perron, were invited to the2020 National Hockey League All-Star Game.[42]
O'Reilly was named captain of the St. Louis Blues as replacement ofAlex Pietrangelo on December 23, 2020.[43]
With the Blues out of the playoffs picture during the2022–23 season and O'Reilly an impending unrestricted free-agent, rumours began to circulate regarding a potential trade out of St. Louis for the team to recoup some assets. On February 17, 2023, the Blues traded O'Reilly andNoel Acciari to theToronto Maple Leafs, in a three-team trade, also involving theMinnesota Wild. The trade sent the Maple Leafs' first-round pick and theOttawa Senators' third-round pick in the2023 NHL entry draft, the Maple Leafs' second-round pick in2024, andAdam Gaudette and prospect Mikhail Abramov to the Blues. Toronto also received prospect Josh Pillar from the Wild, who got the Maple Leafs' fourth-round pick in2025 in return, while St. Louis retained 50 percent and Minnesota retained 25 percent of O'Reilly's salary as part of the trade.[44][45] He got his first Leafs point that game and his first Leafs hat trick on February 21 against his former team, the Buffalo Sabres.[46]
After recording five points in his first three games with the Maple Leafs, O'Reilly went five games scoreless before suffering a broken finger in his eighth game with the team while blocking a shot; his subsequent surgery to repair the finger. The injury made him miss 4 weeks. In his game back he picked up 3assists against theMontreal Canadiens.[47]
During the2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he took a leading role in the Leafs making it past the first round for the first time in 19 years, recording 3 goals and 6 assists.
In leaving the Maple Leafs, O’Reilly signed with theNashville Predators on July 1, 2023, the opening day of NHL free agency. In joining his fifth NHL team, he was signed to a four-year, $18 million contract to begin in the2023–24 season.[48]
 O’Reilly with Team Canada during the2012 IIHF World Championship | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2015 Czech Republic | |
| 2016 Russia | |
 | 2017 Germany/France | |
| World Cup of Hockey | ||
| 2016 Toronto | |
O'Reilly made his international debut at the2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring six points in six games as captain of gold medal-winning Team Ontario. As an underage 17-year-old, O'Reilly gained selection toTeam Canada the2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament inSlovakia.[49] He scored five points in four games and was named game MVP in the final againstRussia as he helped Canada capture the gold medal for the fourth time in five years.[50]
The following year, O'Reilly was selected as captain of Canada for the2009 IIHF World U18 Championships.[51] In six games, he contributed with five points before finishing in fourth place after losing 5–4 in the bronze medal game againstFinland.[52]
Unable to reach the playoffs with the Avalanche after the 2014–15 regular season, O'Reilly, for the third time in his professional career, was invited to participate in the2015 IIHF World Championship in theCzech Republic. He helped contribute to a dominant Canadian team, scoring ten points in ten games as Canada won gold in the tournament final overRussia, their first victory in the World Championship since2007.[53]
O'Reilly repeated as World Champion with Canada in2016. The following year, O'Reilly won silver at the2017 IIHF World Championship.[54] He was named an alternate captain for Team Canada at the2018 IIHF World Championship.[55]
In the preliminary round of the2025 world championships O’Reilly passedRyan Smyth for the most games played by a Canadian at the world championships, with 62 appearances.[56]
O'Reilly is of Irish descent through his paternal grandparents.[57] He is the younger brother of fellow professional hockey playerCal O'Reilly. The two were teammates with the Sabres.[58] His sister, Tara O'Reilly, served as captain of theCarleton Ravens women's ice hockey program in 2009.[59]
On July 13, 2015,Ontario Provincial Police charged O'Reilly with impaired driving following an incident inLucan, Ontario when the vintage pickup truck he was driving struck aTim Hortons.[60] He was charged with driving a motor vehicle while ability impaired and care or control over 80 mgs.[61] He was acquitted of the charges on July 11, 2016.[62]
O'Reilly married longtime girlfriend Dayna Douros on June 30, 2018, just one day prior to being traded to the St. Louis Blues. The couple have four children together.
In 2023, O'Reilly and his family were featured in an episode of ESPN'sE:60, which focused on his mother donating a kidney to the man who managed the local rink where her sons played hockey as kids.[63]
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Huron-Perth Lakers AAA | AH U16 | 51 | 31 | 40 | 71 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA | GTHL U16 | 50 | 31 | 43 | 74 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OPJHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Erie Otters | OHL | 61 | 19 | 33 | 52 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Erie Otters | OHL | 68 | 16 | 50 | 66 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 81 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 74 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 81 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Metallurg Magnitogorsk | KHL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 29 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 80 | 28 | 36 | 64 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 82 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 71 | 21 | 39 | 60 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 72 | 20 | 35 | 55 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 81 | 24 | 37 | 61 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 82 | 28 | 49 | 77 | 12 | 26 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 71 | 12 | 49 | 61 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 56 | 24 | 30 | 54 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 78 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 40 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 13 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 26 | 43 | 69 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 79 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,152 | 303 | 521 | 824 | 194 | 81 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 15 | ||||
| KHL totals | 12 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Canada Ontario | U17 |  | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2008 | Canada | IH18 | | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2009 | Canada | U18 | 4th | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2012 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2013 | Canada | WC | 5th | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | Canada | WC | | 10 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Canada | WC | | 10 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2016 | Canada | WCH | | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Canada | WC |  | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2018 | Canada | WC | 4th | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2025 | Canada | WC | 5th | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 16 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| Senior totals | 69 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 12 | ||||
| Award | Year | Refs |
|---|---|---|
| CHL | ||
| Top Prospects Game | 2009 | |
| NHL | ||
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy | 2014 | [23] |
| NHL All-Star Game | 2016,2019,2020 | [35][42] |
| Conn Smythe Trophy | 2019 | [64] |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2019 | [65] |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy | 2019 | [39] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winner of theLady Byng Memorial Trophy 2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Conn Smythe Trophy winner 2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Frank J. Selke Trophy winner 2019 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | St. Louis Blues captain 2020–2023 | Succeeded by |