Revisiting the Blues' Trade for Ryan O'Reilly

The St. Louis Blues acquired Ryan O'Reilly from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade that had a significant impact on both teams. This deal played a key role in the Blues' eventual Stanley Cup victory.

Details of the Trade

The two teams agreed to send Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis in exchange for Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson, a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Initially, the trade appeared heavily in favor of the Blues.

Long-term Perspectives on the Trade

More than six years later, opinions have shifted, showing the trade as more balanced. Multiple factors influenced how the trade impacted both franchises.

Ryan O'Reilly’s Background

Selected 33rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, O'Reilly quickly became popular with fans. Due to concerns about his long-term salary cost, he was traded to the Sabres in exchange for defenseman Nikita Zadorov and forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and J.T. Compher, a 31st pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Performance with the Sabres

During three seasons with Buffalo, O'Reilly played 224 games, scoring 65 goals and tallying 176 points. Although he never scored less than 60 points in a single season, the team’s collective record of 93-118-35 over those years diminished his enthusiasm for the game.

“Though he never produced less than 60 points in a single season, a collective record of 93-118-35 over his three seasons in Buffalo left the 27-year-old O’Reilly with a loss of love for the game.”

To fully understand why fans from both sides feel their team benefited, it is important to consider these different perspectives and the context surrounding the trade.

Would you like the summary to be more neutral or slightly opinionated?

The Hockey Writers — 2025-11-02