At the current time the Toronto Maple Leafs third line center role has been being filled by rookie Fraser Minten who has dressed in a grand total of five games this year.
While Minten has been and is the best internal solution to the Toronto Maple Leafs role at center on the third line, the team may prefer a veteran with more star power and a longer track record of success. A better option could be re-acquiring Ryan O'Reilly who is currently playing with the Nashville Predators.
Former general manager Kyle Dubas acquired the Conn Smythe trophy winner from the St. Louis Blues for the stretch drive of the 2022-23 NHL season and he produced at nearly a point per game pace while averaging just 16:32 a night. Many fans hoped that O'Reilly, who was an unrestricted free agent would decide to sign an extension for future seasons with the club, but that was not the case.
O'Reilly would sign a four-year deal with the Predators that carried a salary cap hit of $4.5 Million while also receiving top six minutes. In his first season, he finished fourth in team scoring (69) and second in goals scored (26) helping the Predators reach the playoffs in what was predicted to be a rebuilding season.
In his second year in Nashville the club finds themselves near the conference basement and sliding behind six other teams for the last wild card spot to reach the playoffs. With hope dwindling in Tennessee that the team will make the playoffs there could be a sell off.
Could Ryan O'Reilly return to the Toronto Maple Leafs?
O'Reilly still has two and a half years left on his contract, but there could be a possibility of reacquiring the one-time Maple Leaf center, although it is remote.
After leaving Toronto, O'Reilly appeared disgruntled about his time, however, his mind may have changed. His best NHL season came while playing behind current Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube back in 2018-19 when he he had a career high 77-points, won a Stanley Cup, along with earning playoff MVP and the Frank J. Selke trophy.
If the Maple Leafs were able to get O'Reilly to return Toronto and able to get even a 33% retention on his contract the team is looking at a middle six center making $3 Million per season. His age, declining play, and the cost to acquire him may not make sense, however.
How much better is O'Reilly today than Fraser Minten, and if you consider the cost of acquisition, does the upgrade make sense when considered in the context of what the Leafs also need? These are tough questions, but from a purely fan perspective, it would be exciting to see O'Reilly come back.