The youngest player ever to enter a regulation game for the Colorado Avalanche, O’Reilly is a rare blend of speed, size, offensive flare, defensive efficiency, and penalty-killing gusto.
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2009 NHL Entry Draft, 33rd Overall
Vital Stats: 6’ 0â€, 200 lbs, born February 7th, 1991
It may have surprised Avalanche fans when 18-year-old Ryan O’Reilly started his rookie season in the NHL, but Ryan has an impressive resume to back up Coach Joe Sacco’s decision. In fact, Ryan O’Reilly has been on the fast-track to the NHL for years.
O’Reilly was drafted to the Ontario Hockey League in their 2007 Draft, having showed considerable promise with the Toronto Junior Canadiens of the OPJHL. He only played one game for the Junior Canadiens, but netted a goal on his only attempt. By the time Ryan reached the OHL Erie Otters for the ’07-’08 season he had built up considerable expectations within the organization. O’Reilly capitalized, scoring 19 goals on 61 games, and also receiving the Otters’ Rookie of the Year & Most Sportsmanlike Player awards.
The ’08-’09 season saw Ryan continue to develop, as he logged 66 points in 68 games. That year saw O’Reilly receiving league-wide acclaim when he was named the OHL Western Conference’s Best Penalty Killer for his tenacious PK defense. By the end of the 2009 season, Ryan O’Reilly was the Captain of Canada’s Under-18 National Team.
O’Reilly scored his first goal in his first game in the NHL, a season-opening 5-2 Avalanche win over the San Jose Sharks in Denver. Ryan recorded the game-winner.
Ryan O’Reilly was drafted 30 picks after fellow rookie Avalanche Center Matt Duchene. The Colorado coaching staff announced that he would spend the remainder of the 2009-2010 season with the Avalanche on October 19th, one day after announcing the same for Duchene.
