Thursday, February 28, 2013
Offer sheet for O'Reilly (update)
By Victoria Matiash
UPDATE: Finally, the Ryan O'Reilly/Colorado Avalanche drama is nearing a close. As confirmed by ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun, the Calgary Flames have signed the restricted free agent to a $10 million, two-year offer sheet. Now the Colorado club has a week to think about whether it wants to match the contract, or take the draft picks and run.
"... Avalanche now have until March 7 to match the offer or accept draft picks compensation. The Avs would receive a first- and a third-round draft pick if they choose not to match. The offer sheet is structured as $1 million in salary for this season, plus a $2.5 million signing bonus, and then $6.5 million salary in the second year ..."
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Contract talks between Ryan O'Reilly and the Colorado Avalanche appear to remain at a standstill. Unless one side is willing to move -- soon -- O'Reilly's future may realistically lie with another NHL club.
With a distinct line drawn in the sand, Adrian Dater of the Denver Post suggests a trade or offer sheet could be in the works soon.
"... One of the underreported aspects of this standoff is the growing possibility that another team could make O'Reilly a Group II free-agent offer sheet. There are many teams interested in making a deal for O'Reilly, but it's unclear whether the Avs are considering moving him. If they're not — but another team really wants him — they are free to offer O'Reilly any contract they want. Then the Avs would have their hand forced; either they would have to match the offer or let him go and accept draft picks as compensation ..."
So if another club were to offer O'Reilly a deal worth an average annual paycheque of $5 million -- his desired salary, apparently -- the Avs would receive a first- and third-round draft pick in return. Assuming Colorado doesn't match the offer.
The Avalanche is said to be offering the 22-year-old approximately $3.5 million in average annual salary -- for either two or five years.
