Elliotte Friedman fuels Ryan O’Reilly trade talk with the Montreal Canadiens
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The rumor linking Ryan O’Reilly to the Montreal Canadiens has just gained a serious boost in credibility.
The 34-year-old veteran, who earns $4.5 million per year, is exactly the kind of warrior missing from our young brigade.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Habs have officially dipped their toes into the file to pry the center away from Nashville. Let’s be honest — his Stanley Cup–winning experience would do wonders in the locker room.
Let’s tell it like it is: the asking price set by Barry Trotz is steep. We’re talking about a first-round pick and a top-tier prospect.
Kent Hughes must decide whether to sacrifice some of the future to stabilize his top six right now.
Over his NHL career, O’Reilly has proven he is a faceoff machine, maintaining an impressive efficiency rate of over 55%. This season with the Predators, he has recorded 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points in 57 games.
The veteran logs around 20 minutes per night and shows no signs of slowing down despite his age.
Imagine O’Reilly centering Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov at the Bell Centre — the impact would be immediate.
Why Elliotte Friedman’s latest report makes Ryan O’Reilly a real option in Montreal
“In which Elliotte theorizes the Canadiens like Ryan O’Reilly.
Certainly the type of player that fits their desires… Much more from around the league”
– Eric Engels
You don’t shop for a player of this caliber just for fun — you do it to change the team’s identity.
O’Reilly owns a +8 plus-minus this season, proving his strong effectiveness at both ends of the ice.
The Franco-Ontarian’s contract runs through 2026–2027, which would give management two years of stability.
This is a major opportunity to surround Nick Suzuki with a mentor who has already lifted the Conn Smythe Trophy.
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Elliotte Friedman fuels Ryan O’Reilly trade talk with the Montreal Canadiens
Should Kent Hughes give up a first-round pick for Ryan O’Reilly?