C Ryan O’Reilly
Ryan O’Reilly was already on the Leafs two years ago, had limited success, and then chose to leave. Since then, he's declined and become more expensive. A lot of people want the Leafs to bring him back, but is this really the best they could do?
Unlike the minor cost that it took to get Schenn, the Leafs had to shell it out to obtain the services of O’Reilly from the St. Louis Blues back in 2023 prior to the trade deadline. Toronto gave up forwards Adam Gaudette, Mikhail Abramov, along with a 2023 first-round and third-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick to nab O’Reilly and Noel Acciari from St. Louis.
Despite the tremendous cost, the trade deal worked out to a certain extent in the end for the Leafs. That was because O’Reilly helped the team get over the hump by winning a first-round playoff matchup for the first time in almost two decades when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
In total, he would put up 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points in 13 games down the stretch, along with another 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points in 11 playoff games that year with the Leafs. (All stats from NHL.com and naturalstatrick.com, and salaries from PuckPedia.com)
Although O’Reilly didn’t choose to return to Toronto at the conclusion of the 2022-23 NHL season in free agency, there may now be something significant that the Maple Leafs have that could entice him to come back for another crack at it.
That important something is none other than Leafs head coach Craig Berube, as it was under Berube when O’Reilly played his best hockey of his career back in 2018-19. Not only did he record career bests in goals (28), assists (49) and points (77) that year, he was the Conn Smythe winner in the playoffs in helping the Blues to their first ever Stanley Cup as well. So perhaps by reuniting the 34-year-old veteran with his former coach, it can help rekindle that magic once again, this time with Toronto.