Report: Avalanche will not trade Ryan O'Reilly this season
The Colorado Avalanche appear set to retain the services of center Ryan O'Reilly for the rest of the season.
Ryan O'Reilly will not be traded this season, per sources
— adater (@adater) February 10, 2014
O'Reilly, who is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, has scored 21 goals and added 20 assists while averaging just under 19 minutes a game this season, the most among all Avalanche forwards.
O'Reilly is making $6.5-million this season, with a cap hit of $5-million. As Adrian Dater reported in January, both sides have agreed to play out the season and discuss a new contract this summer; if O'Reilly is unsigned into July, Colorado will likely give him a qualifying offer of $6.5 million to retain his rights.
That appears to be just fine by O'Reilly. "I like it here. I want to play here. I want to stay here," he said. "But it's just stuff you can't control right now. It's easier when you don't have to worry about that stuff and just play the game, but I don't control it. I just stay out of the business side 'til the season is over."