Ryan O’Reilly Has Chance to Become Toronto Maple Leafs Legend

Although he’s only played a few games thus far, Ryan O’Reilly still has a chance to become a Toronto Maple Leafs legend.

If you’re already trying to compare the Ryan O’Reilly trade to the Nick Foligno acquisition, you’re probably the most pessimistic Toronto Maple Leafs fan around. I can understand where you’re coming from but it’s not even close.

Foligno suffered a back injury which made skating almost impossible for him, while O’Reilly broke a finger. Not only that, but they’re not even close in terms of comparable players. Sure, both players were brought in to provide leadership and help add more grit and playoff-style hockey to the team, but O’Reilly is so much better than Foligno.

Not only had O’Reilly scored 20-plus goals in a season five more times than Foligno, but O’Reilly’s had real playoff experience and has been the best player in a playoff series before. He can also help help in the team’s top-six but can play third-line centre as well.

When the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019, not only did he lead his team with eight goals and 23 points in 26 playoff games,  but he took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the best player in the playoffs.

O’Reilly Has Chance to Become Toronto Maple Leafs Legend

When you watch O’Reilly play, it’s no secret that he’s a true competitor and will do anything to win. The fact that he still doesn’t wear a visor tells you everything about the type of player he is and that competitiveness should be displayed from the opening face-off of Game 1.

There are some players who elevate their games in the playoffs and O’Reilly is that guy. With 22 goals and 56 points in 64 career playoff games, the 32-year-old shows up when it matters.

If O’Reilly was suffering something other than a finger injury, I’d be concerned. I know it could affect his shot or how he holds the stick, but that’s going to pass immediately when he steps onto the ice for the playoffs.

The Foligno trade could have been a special one for the Leafs, but his back injury destroyed his ability to skate. He was a shell of himself and he wasn’t able to be the player the team thought they were trading for. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad trade, but instead, is just unfortunate.

If O’Reilly can stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe that he won’t be impactful right away. Whether that’s in the team’s top-six or situated as the third-line centre, O’Reilly will bring a different element to this line-up that this roster hasn’t seen in the playoffs yet.

O’Reilly is a difference-maker.

He’s a competitor and he’s a player that all 32 teams would want when the biggest game is on the line. I truly believe that he can score that big goal or prevent a scoring chance that will give the Leafs an opportunity to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967.

Time will tell, but the Ryan O’Reilly trade could turn into the biggest acquisition in Toronto Maple Leafs history if they go on a run.