Ryan O’Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche warms up prior to facing the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center on March 8, 2013, in Denver. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
Thanks to Sabres beat writer for this transcript. Bill gave me a heads-up about the call when I was at the gym, and when I returned to the office and got on, it was over. Bill emailed me the following quotes from former Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly, the pending 2016 unrestricted free agent who, according to my source, demanded an eight-year, $64 million extension from the Avs:
Glad to be a Sabre? “It’s definitely exciting. Obviously, the team in the last few days has made steps in the right direction moving forward. It looks like it’s going to be a contending team. I’m excited to be a part of it.
What does your next contract look like? “I think it’s something we’ll talk about July 1, something to look forward to. Obviously, I’ve been to Buffalo before, know a couple of guys on the team. A couple guys have reached out. I’m excited to get there moving forward.”
Tyler Ennis. You played with him at the recent Worlds for Canada? “I got very close to him. As a player, he was huge for our team. I really liked watching him play, great hockey sense. For the size of him, he makes some huge (plays) over there … It just shows the character and tenacity of him.”
What do you know about Evander Kane? “Played against him a lot. You give him a chance, he’s going to bury it.”
Did you think you would end up in Buffalo? “There’s a lot of rumors floating around. Obviously, when you hear them, you don’t know to believe and what not to believe … I’m definitely glad I ended up here … What (GM) Tim Murray said about me, it’s flattering to be looked at that way. To come in with the confidence in myself and the confidence in me, it’s definitely a huge honor and I’m looking for it.”
What do you anticipate your role being with Buffalo? “I think it’s going to be a big challenge with me. I think in the past with Colorado I wasn’t really looked at as much of a leader. I think … with the Sabres I have to be a more vocal guy, be that more off-ice leader and on-ice as well.”
You always seemed to have contract problems with the Avs. Why? “Yeah, I think negotiations were always difficult. I don’t think there’s anything I would’ve done differently. My agent has done phenomenal things for me in my career. I think this is the next step for me here. I have a ton of respect for them … They treated me with class and always respected me. I appreciate everything that they’ve done. It’s like a new chapter in the story here.
You’ll be playing with Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Eichel. Thoughts? “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a guy you’ve seen in the past can maybe come in and make a difference right away. That’s just for any team. Obviously, I’m going to try to help and teach whatever I can to help make him a better player.”
You were on a team that went from last to first in Colorado (in 2013-14). How tough is that? “That year we won the division, one of the things I remember, we just kind of took it game by game and had that even-keel mentality, and I think coming into this season it’s the same thing we have to have.
Perception of the Sabres? “Being just around the league you hear … people saying it’s going to be a different team. That’s an exciting thing to be a part of.”
Looking forward to be a leader? “I always wanted to be a big piece like that on the leadership role. Hearing that by the management, and I think it’s another area to grow my game … It’s a step I can’t wait to get started with.
(Coach Dan) Bylsma said No. 1 center, Murray mentioned wing: “I obviously expect to play center. Center is how I broke into the league. It’s just I’m the most comfortable with and feel I have the most impact at. Obviously, if they think (I should go) back on the wing, I’d gladly accept that. I like starting down low in my own end, whether it’s faceoffs, everything. I love taking faceoffs. Being at center, is for me a way to make myself better.”
Thanks again to .
Meanwhile:
— Mikko Rantanen, the Avs’ first-round draft pick (10th overall) Friday, returned to Finland and will not meet with the Denver media Monday. However, he and others from the his draft class will be available during the Avs’ upcoming development camp starting July 6 (next Monday).
Former Avs forward P.A. Parenteau was placed on buyout waivers Sunday by the Montreal Canadiens, less than a year after being acquired from Colorado, along with a fifth-round draft pick, for Daniel Briere. Parenteau, 32, has a year remaining on the four-year, $16 million contract he signed with the Avs in 2012. He cleared waivers. The Habs are on the hook for $2.667 million, with a cap hit of $1.33 million the next two seasons. GM Marc Bergevin’s statement: “I would like to thank Pierre-Alexandre for his time as a Montreal Canadien and wish him the best with his career. It was a difficult decision to make, but we feel it gives us more flexibility as we continue to improve our club and provide our young prospects with an opportunity to earn a spot on our roster.”
