Ryan O’Reilly: Sabres Problem or Solution?

It’s hard to imagine there could be greater divide over a single player on the Buffalo Sabres roster more than Robin Lehner. But, times have changed. Move over Robin — it’s Ryan O’Reilly’s turn.

After O’Reilly’s comments at locker room cleanout day that he’d “lost passion for the game at times this year,” he’s become a lightning rod for criticism. Some fans want to ship him out of Buffalo faster than water going over the Falls.

O’Reilly’s honest-to-a-fault words were rare to hear from a professional athlete. And with Sabres’ General Manager Jason Botterill talking about the need for change and the need to get more speed up front, O’Reilly’s name has been swirling in trade rumors ever since.

After far too many games, the 2009, 33rd overall draft pick has been a broken record of excuses, lamenting the team needs to be better and that he needs to be better. He said that if he and others are going to stay in Buffalo, they have to show that they want to be here. “We have to prove to this organization and this city that we can change things here. I want to be a part of it,” said O’Reilly.

Botterill’s Interesting Offseason Ahead

Leading up to the trade deadline this year, the belief was any player not named Jack Eichel was available to be moved by the Sabres. Though he wasn’t traded, teams did kick the tires for O’Reilly. Botterill just didn’t like what teams were offering.

Trade talk will likely really pick up after the Stanley Cup Playoffs and leading up to the NHL Draft on June 22. O’Reilly knows he could be moved. “If something happens, it happens. And that’s hockey and you move on. But I’m preparing to be in Buffalo.” said O’Reilly to Canadian sportscaster Darren Dreger. “I want to be in Buffalo. I love it there. It’s a great city and I want to be there and want to win.”

While everyone hoped O’Reilly would be part of a rebuilding plan, along with Eichel, the Sabres became the NHL’s first team to finish 31st and are back at square one. “When you finish where we were, you have to look at everything. That means looking at even changing up some of our core players,” said Botterill.