Ryan O’Reilly injury update: Latest news on Predators trade chip after taking stick to face vs. Blue Jackets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Veteran center Ryan O’Reilly could be a strong addition to a playoff contender, but the Nashville Predators center suffered an injury scare on Tuesday.

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Reilly was unable to finish the Predators’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after sustaining an eye injury, forcing him to leave the ice. As Nashville is both in the playoff race and a potential seller, every game and moment matters for the team’s decision-making.

Here’s the latest on O’Reilly following the scary incident against Columbus.

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Ryan O’Reilly injury updates

Ryan O’Reilly left Tuesday night’s game with an eye injury, but the Predators said he is expected to be fine.

“For those who are concerned about Ryan O’Reilly, we expect that he is going to be OK,” the team said in a statement. “He is flying home with the team from Columbus tonight and will be evaluated by our medical team in Nashville. We expect to have an update on his playing status sometime Thursday.”

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The Predators are off Wednesday before returning to the ice on Thursday night for their final game ahead of the trade deadline.

What happened to Ryan O’Reilly?

Near the end of Tuesday’s Predators game against the Blue Jackets, Ryan O’Reilly was forced to leave after taking a stick to the eye. He did not return, as blood from the injury was visible on the ice.

Ryan O’Reilly trade rumors

While the Predators are just four points out of a playoff spot, Nashville could still look to trade veterans like Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos. O’Reilly is signed through the end of the 2026–27 season, increasing his value as a player the team would get for two playoff runs.

However, O’Reilly reportedly enjoys Nashville and would like to remain with the team for a playoff chase.

If the Predators opt to keep O’Reilly, they could instead look to extend him beyond next season.