When the St. Louis Blues acquired Ryan O’Reilly from the Buffalo Sabers in July 2018, they hoped to find someone who could help move the needle from playoff contender to Stanley Cup contender. The Blues managed to make the deal without giving up young prospects and even dropped some big contracts. The trade seemed like a win, but could O’Reilly help the Blues land the elusive star? The trade made sense, but was considered risky by some. O’Reilly’s frustrations with the Sabers were made public toward the end of his time there.
In St. Louis, O’Reilly showed what kind of player he was. The story of O’Reilly and the Blues is not just a chapter in team history. It’s a story about leadership, redemption, hard work and a player who became an important part of a championship locker room. The Blues just played O’Reilly and will see him twice more this month, making it the perfect time to tell O’Reilly’s story in St. Louis.
A new beginning for a talented center
When O’Reilly arrived in St. Louis, he earned a reputation as one of the hardest-working two-way centers in the league. His faceoff numbers were elite. His defensive prowess earned him consistent Selke Trophy votes. Offensively, he was a consistent scorer of over twenty goals.
Yet there is one big question. Was O’Reilly a problem in the locker room?
At the end of a historically poor 2017-18 season in Buffalo, O’Reilly admitted that tough seasons with the Sabers led to him losing his love for the game.
“It’s crept into all our games. Yeah, it’s disappointing. It’s sad. I feel like I’ve lost the love for the game several times throughout the year and I just have to get back into it because it’s eating away at myself and the other guys as well.”
Many began to wonder if O’Reilly’s attitude was contributing to the struggles in Buffalo and if it would spill over to St. Louis. If Blues general manager Doug Armstrong had any reservations, he ultimately felt the risk was well worth the reward.
From last place to franchise legend
The 2018-19 Blues season ended with the franchise’s first Stanley Cup victory. However, by the time the new year rolled around that season, things weren’t looking that way, with the Blues sitting in last place in the league. Goalkeeping was having a hard time. The key players did not perform at the expected level. Head coach Mike Yeo was fired and replaced by Craig Berube.
To his credit, O’Reilly was one of the few players who played at his expected level. He was the team’s lone All-Star and finished the season with a career-high 77 points. His defensive play earned him the Selke Trophy. As it turned out, the rest of the team turned it around and made it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
However, O’Reilly has made a name for himself in the playoffs.
O’Reilly recorded 23 points in 26 playoff games. Even during an eight-match goalless drought, he still produced with assists and strong defensive play. During the Stanley Cup Final, O’Reilly scored two goals in Game 4, including the winning goal. He scored a goal in each of the last three games of the series. His goal to open Game 7 was a significant momentum shift in a game that the Boston Bruins had heavily dominated up to that point.
Related: What the world looked like when the Blues won their Stanley Cup
O’Reilly was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, something that cemented his role on the championship team and in Blues history. The player the Blues brought in to increase their chances of becoming a Stanley Cup contender was instrumental in winning the Stanley Cup. Plus, it only lasted one season.
The obvious choice for the next captain
When Alex Pietrangelo left after the 2019/20 season, it left a void in the team’s defense and leadership. The Blues needed a new captain. They needed someone who embodied the culture of engagement, work and resilience. Although several players had cases for the captaincy, the choice was obvious.
Before the 2021 season O’Reilly became the 23rd captain in blues history. His captaincy came at an interesting time in the team’s history. The NHL had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, shortened seasons, rescheduled games and the disruptions to the league’s daily operations.
Despite the unusual times, O’Reilly led the Blues to the playoffs in 2021 and 2022. During the 2022 playoffs, O’Reilly scored seven goals and recorded 12 points in 12 games. Players like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou developed into the elite players they are today with the help of O’Reilly’s example and guidance.
All good things eventually come to an end. In the 2022-2023 season, the Blues went into a reorganization. As part of that, they traded many star players for assets. Vladimir Tarasenko, Ivan Barbashev and O’Reilly were traded to contending teams.
O’Reilly’s tenure with the Blues is over, but his impact was undisputed.
O’Reilly’s legacy in St. Louis
Several things could define O’Reilly’s legacy with the Blues:
- Centerpiece of the Blues Stanley Cup Championship team
- Baffling rumors that he was a negative presence in the locker room
- One of the most important two-way centers to carry the Blue note
- Setting a good example on the ice
A final tribute
O’Reilly may no longer be playing in St. Louis, but his fingerprints remain all over the organization. He arrived as a player with something to prove. He left as a champion, a leader, a role model and will go down as one of the most influential and popular players in team history.
O’Reilly will visit St. Louis twice in December as a member of the Nashville Predators. It won’t be his first return to St. Louis since leaving the Blues, but considering how often the Blues see their former captain this month, it seemed appropriate to take the time to highlight a big part of the team’s history.
#Ryan #OReillys #Legacy #Louis #Blues #Hockey #Writers #Louis #Blues #Latest #News #Analysis