Patrick Roy on Ryan O'Reilly: 'I would be surprised if we trade him'
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Patrick Roy doesn't have an appetite to part ways with Ryan O'Reilly.
The talented two-way center has been mentioned regularly in trade speculation ever since a rather contentious contract negotiation a couple years back.
But head coach Roy, who works closely with Colorado Avalanche president and general manager Joe Sakic, believes O'Reilly will indeed remain with the club for the long haul.
"I have a lot of confidence in Ryan O'Reilly. I would be surprised if we trade him," Roy said Thursday on Sports Radio 104.3 in Denver.
"Joe (Sakic) has spoken to (O'Reilly's) agent. We would love to have him as an Av for a long time," he added.
O'Reilly remains under contract with the Avalanche through to the end of next season, with a $6-million cap hit. There was some suggestion he could be moved prior to the trade deadline or in the offseason, but it sounds as though the coaching staff and management are set on re-signing him at some point before his contract expires.
Whether the feeling is mutual remains unclear.
O'Reilly has recorded 10 goals and 25 assists in 61 games.