The 35-year-old has the rare distinction of being a second-round pick who immediately made the National Hockey League. He’s since gone on to have a Hall of Very Good career, scoring 323 goals and 880 points in 1,209 career games, winning the Conn Smythe and the Lady Byng, while also earning plenty of votes for the Selke.

He’s one of the best third-line centres in the NHL, and he could be available before the trade deadline if the Nashville Predators fall out of contention. As it stands, they currently sit four points out of a playoff spot thanks to a 26-24-7 record.

In Daily Faceoff’s latest trade board, O’Reilly was considered “an obvious trade candidate.” so with that being said, let’s take a look at his fit, his cap hit, and the cost of acquisition.

Ryan O’Reilly’s fit

A third-line centre isn’t the Oilers biggest need, as a top four defenceman and a goaltender (yes, you read that right) have emerged as the Oilers’ biggest needs ahead of March 6th’s trade deadline. That said, some more middle-six scoring couldn’t hurt the Oilers.

Over 57 games this season for the Predators, the Clinton, Ontario native has 20 goals and 56 points. O’Reilly is on pace to match his career-best of 28 goals, while on pace to pick up 80 points. That would surpass his career-high of 77 points that he set in 2018-19, the year that his St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup.

The fit is pretty clear, O’Reilly would slot in as the Oilers’ third-line centre and probably be the most productive third-line centre they have in years. He wins faceoffs (55.3 percent on the draws this season, 55.6 percent for his career, plays strong defence, and kills penalties. What else could you ask for?

Ryan O’Reilly’s cap hit

This has been reiterated throughout the series, but to make any move at the trade deadline, the Oilers must trade a contract, most likely Andrew Mangiapane. It seems at this point, it’s easier said than done as you’d expect a move to be done by now.

Right now, the Oilers have just $2,627 in projected cap space, which is less than what I owe on my student loan. Their current cap space is a little under $10,000, with their deadline cap space being over $12,009. They can’t absorb a contract unless salary is moved.

O’Reilly makes a lot more than $12,000, as he’s in the penultimate year of a four-year deal with a cap hit of $4.5 million. Even if the Oilers can move Mangiapane’s contract, they’d need the Predators to retain a portion of O’Reilly’s contract, making an expensive trade deadline acquisition even more expensive.

But what about the cost?

Ryan O’Reilly’s cost of acquisition

O’Reilly has been traded in the past. In 2015, the Buffalo Sabres acquired him and Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche for Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, J.T. Compher, and a 2015 second. Three years later, the Sabres sent him to the Blues for Vladimir Sobotka, Patrik Berglund, a 2019 first, a 2021 second, and Tage Thompson. Safe to say the trade has worked for both parties.

The most recent O’Reilly trade, and the best comparable, came in 2023 when the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Adam Gaudette, Mikhail Abramov, a 2023 first, a 2023 third, and 2024 second for O’Reilly and 50% retention. It’s easy to see O’Reilly costing a bit more than that, given he’s having a more productive season than he had in 2022-23 and an additional year on his contract.

He’s arguably the best player the Oilers could get at the deadline, but it seems a little too far fetched, given the Oilers biggest need at the moment is getting a second pair defenceman.

Trade deadline preview series

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF TRADE DEADLINE SPECIAL

The 2026 Trade Deadline Special is going LIVE March 6th. Join the Daily Faceoff crew on Friday, March 6th from 9 AM-1:30 PM MT for wall-to-wall coverage of every single move as it happens. Get instant reaction, expert analysis, and exclusive insights from special guests throughout the day. Tune in LIVE on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and don’t miss a second of deadline day chaos.

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