Last week, the Colorado Avalanche opted to elect to take center-winger Ryan O'Reilly to arbitration. Not a popular move, however, the team felt it necessary because it is looking to reduce the $6.5 million salary that it paid out to O'Reilly in 2013-14. O'Reilly scored a career high 25 goals last season and played an integral role in his team's ascent from the division cellar to winning their division and playing in the playoffs.
On Monday, Roy and O'Reilly for media day ahead of the NHL Awards ceremony. Roy is nominated for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year while O'Reilly is nominated for the Lady Byng Award.
Is there bad blood brewing between O'Reilly and Avs execs Roy and Sakic? Roy isn't buying into the hype.
"No, and I'll explain to you why, because Joe and I were players and we also had to be businessmen," Roy said. "At this time of the year, it's no different for other teams. It's an unpleasant time. It's a negotiation. Ryan has to do what he thinks is the best. Obviously as a team you always wish the players are buying into your structure and buying into your plan. Joe has been doing a super job. Joe is the one who is dealing with the contracts, but from a coach's perspective, I don't see it as a problem. If you know Ryan O'Reilly, you know he's going to jump on the ice and he's going to play his minutes, whatever I give him. Everybody knows how much I love him and how much respect I have for him. I think Ryan is going to come in and play hard for us and it won't be an issue."
Press play and forward to the 7:10 mark of this interview with Roy.
Thanks, Avalanche.com
WATCH: @Ryan_OReilly90 talks season & Lady Byng Trophy at #NHLAwards Media Day: http://t.co/807KUBPpfd pic.twitter.com/XK5kaArn3O
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 24, 2014
O'Reilly told NHL.com that he wants to stay and play in Denver.
"There's no question that I want to be in Colorado next year and try to win," O'Reilly said
is trusting in his agent to negotiate a deal for him to finish the job that he started in Colorado.
"I have full confidence in my agent for getting things sorted out," O'Reilly said. "All I control is really preparing for next year and letting the business side play out. When it's over, it's over."
Is ROR angry or bitter at the Avs for taking him to the arbitration hearing?
"I don't know if it's so much anger, it's a little frustration I think on both sides," he said. "Obviously it's in the CBA and they have every right to, and it's a smart move by them, but all in all something will be worked out."
Roy is confident that he and Sakic can get a long term deal worked out with RFA-to-be O'Reilly, and well as an extension for pending UFA pivot Paul Stastny.
"They both are very important players to our team," Roy said "I'm certainly very confident things will go well."
On Wednesday, NHL clubs and their execs can begin the process of calling pending UFAs to get a pulse on the player. No contracts can be discussed until July 1.
The Avs have until July 15 to get O'Reilly's name on a new contract, otherwise, he will go before the arbitrator where he will receive either a one or two year contract. If he gets a two year arb award, O'Reilly, 23, would become a UFA after that contract expired. O'Reilly a UFA at age 25? Could happen if Roy and Sakic fail to get a mutually agreeable deal done.
Something tells me that Roy and Sakic will be using their time and talents wisely in the days to come.
Stastny will be a popular center on the UFA market, should he get there on July. He and his agent can begin speaking with teams on Wednesday. There will be many suitors that Roy and Sakic will have to compete with.