BUFFALO – The Sabres traded Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues tonight.
O’Reilly was owed a $7.5 million by midnight, a bonus the Blues will likely pay now.
O’Reilly, 27, played three seasons with the Sabres, becoming one of the NHL’s most versatile centers. The Sabres, however, never improved with him, and following their last-place finish in 2017-18, he talked about the how the constant losing sapped his love for hockey.
Stay tuned for more details.
Update: The Sabres have received forwards Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka and Tage Thompson and a 2019 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round selection.
O’Reilly’s $7.5 million cap hit now belongs to the Blues. He signed a seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension in 2015, then the richest deal in Sabres history.
What have the Sabres acquired?
– Berglund, 30, has compiled 168 goals and 322 points in his 622-game career. The Swede has four years left on his contract with a $3.85 million cap hit, according to capfriendly.com.
– Sobotka, 30, has compiled 47 goals and 155 points in his 463-game career. The Czech has two years and a $3.5 million cap hit left on his deal.
– Thompson, 20, has compiled three goals and nine points in his 41-game career. The Blues selected him 26th overall in 2016. The American has two years and a $925,000 cap hit left on his entry-level contract.
