Final Grade: Ryan O'Reilly
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 9, 2011 7:00 AM MDT
in Final Grades 2011
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PrintThis report card is a joint effort by Beachie, Sandie, Paul, SlamDunktheFunk and DDC. Stats courtesy of hockey-reference.com and NHL.com
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Final Grade |
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Final Grade: C+
Midseason Grade: B+
Last Year: B+
Position:
- C 71gp 11g 13a 24pt -6
- LW 3gp 2g 0a 2pt -1
Lines:
- 3rd 52gp 5g 11a 16pt +3
- 4th 10gp 4g 2a 6pt +2
- 2nd 9gp 3g 0a 3pt -9
- 1st 3gp 1g 0a 1pt -3
Vitals: 6'0" / 200 / Age 20 / Shoots L
Drafted by Colorado, 2nd round (33rd) of 2009 draft
Joined Avalanche: Debuted on October 1st, 2009 against San Jose
MHH Nicknames: Radar, ORLY
Linemates:
LW:
- Winnik 31gp 4g 7a 11pt +4
- McLeod 14gp 3g 4a 7pt -1
- Porter 9gp 0g 2a 2pt -6
- Jones 5gp 3g 0a 3pt -3
- Stoa 4gp 1g 0a 1pt Even
- Galiardi 4gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
- Yip 3gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
- Dupuis 1gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
C:
- Duchene 1gp 0g 0a 0pt -1
- Dupuis 1gp 1g 0a 0pt +1
- Stastny 1gp 1g 0a 0pt -1
RW:
- Winnik 19gp 1g 4a 5pt -6
- Yip 18gp 2g 4a 6pt +2
- Mauldin 13gp 4g 4a 8pt +4
- Koci 7gp 2g 0a 2pt Even
- Porter 7gp 2g 0a 2pt -4
- Jones 5gp 1g 0a 0pt -5
- Hejduk 3gp 0g 0a 0pt -3
- Dupuis 1gp 1g 1a 2pt +2
- McClement 1gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
Avs with O'Reilly in the lineup: 28-38-8 (.432 pt%) 2.84GF 3.46 GA
Ice Time:
- TTOI 16:03 (10th)
- EV 13:01 (10th)
- PK 2:24 (3rd)
- PP 0:37 (13th)
Career Highlights: In his 2nd year in the league, Radar set a new career high for goals (13) and tied his career high for points with 26.
Report: Ryan O'Reilly's sophomore season somehow sidestepped the second-season setbacks suffered spasmodically by peers Brandon Yip, T.J. Galiardi, and even the prodigy himself, Matt Duchene. He was a model of consistency all season. Unfortunately for Radar, who managed appearances in 74 games this season, that consistency was mostly a display of mediocrity as his undeniable defensive wizardry, backed by him finishing in the Top 10 in takeaways in the NHL among forwards for the 2nd year in a row, was yet again beset by very average offensive production. While the MHH standard when the collective approves of a player is to point the crooked finger at his linemates, O'Reilly's production even when given a Top 6 role at the end of the season was ultimately underwhelming. Negativity aside, the Avalanche have a real keeper in O'Reilly and front office big whigs have repeatedly stationed him alongside Duchene and Erik Johnson as primary building blocks as the team moves forward. Whether O'Reilly's offensive game ever progresses to a level where more Top 6 minutes are justified remains to be seen but his defensive game is already light years ahead of where most players his age are. While not a huge leap forward in development, this season was in essence a victory, albeit a small one.
Fun Fact: O'Reilly was the 1st overall pick in the 2007 OHL draft, an honor previously held by Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, former Nordique, the late Bryan Fogarty and that douchebag Eric Lindros
The O'Reilly Drinking Game: Drink every time 2009 32nd overall pick Landon Ferraro scores a goal for the Red Wings Drunk potential: Slim.
What We Said Last Year: Radar certainly hit a wall offensively after actually leading Matt Duchene in points early in the season. However, where he really shined was in the defensive zone. He ate up time on the pk and wound up being the go to guy for defensive zone faceoffs throughout much of the season, though his face off percentage wasn't exactly glowing.
2010 Cap Hit: $900,000
2011 Status: Signed for one more year (RFA at expiry)
Outlook for Next Season: When O'Reilly was drafted, the "book" on him was that he would be solid defensively and that his intangibles (work ethic, determination, great hair) would be fantastic. Offense was a different story though, as opinions differed on whether he would develop into a great offensive player. We've always felt that the Avs are very high on O'Reilly, even before they traded for Jay McClement (who would potentially replace him as 3rd line center) and before Joe Sakic singled out O'Reilly (but not Paul Stastny) as one of the team's building blocks. And, we think the Avalanche would feel comfortable enough with O'Reilly as a #2 center to move Stastny (to Toronto along with all of our draft picks for a bunch of junky players they don't want). Radar did look good in limited time on the top 2 lines last year...but the 4 points in 12 games is pretty much right on track with this career scoring rate from the 3rd line. But we're totally going to keep an open mind, mostly because of the hair.
Next Up: T.J. Galiardi
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Comments
Not a top top center -- yet
I like O’Reilly a lot. However, if the Avs use him as a second line center, then we know that we’re still committed to “rebuilding” because Ryan is not anywhere near what we need as a number 2 centerman.
He’s still very young, and what he does well now, he does very well. He just doesn’t, currently, have the offensive upside that we need from that number two guy. Staz and Dutchy are our top pairing. It’s great that Ryan can step in when need be, injuries, and play a game that doesn’t make you cringe, but he’s just not a top guy yet.
I have high hopes for him in the future. If he can turn on the offense, then he’d be a really great player. Let us hope he shoots more next season.
FUck the red wings, indeed.
Top 10 in takeaways in the NHL among forwards for the 2nd year in a row
That is all.
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 7:17 AM MDT reply actions 3 recs
If he can combine that with the offense he showed in the dregs of the season (AKA, the end), he will be a major stud (hockey wise)
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
Looking at his girlfriend, I’d say he’s a major stud otherwise already.
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 7:48 AM MDT up reply actions
Even with the improved offense at the end
4 points in 12 games. Obviously that’s the very definition of small sample size but he has a long ways to go on offense. A loooooooong ways to go.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Why do you hate the Avalanche? And the ladies?
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
by Bob in Boulder on Jun 9, 2011 10:14 AM MDT up reply actions
He's got a very friendly home stats crew
I understand why you’re using this stat to help define Radar’s worth, but may I point out that it seems, uh, highly subjective? The top 10 features two Islanders, two Thrashers, and two Stars. I’m especially amazed at Dustin Byfuglien, who managed to finish with 85 takeaways, which was 23 more than the next best defenseman in that category, Shea Weber. What a statistical oddity that is!
Without looking, does anyone want to guess who was 2nd on the Avs in takeaways behind O’Reilly? Right, it was Matt Duchene (of course!). Would anyone here say Duchene is the Avs’ 2nd-best defensive forward, or even the 2nd-best center on the team. Probably not.
Jay McClement only had 37 takeaways, but 17 of those were in his 24 games with the Avs, while 20 of them were in his 56 games with the Blues. The highest-ranking Blues player was David Backes, who ranked 73rd overall with 47 takeaways.
As a team, the Avs were 6th in the league with 684 takeaways, and 22nd in the league in giveaways, with 574. Seems pretty reasonable for one of the worst defensive teams in the league (insert sarcasm tag here).
And one more parting note. The Bruins and the Avs were very similar in at least one stat: total hits. Boston was credited with 1736, the Avs with 1726. Which is weird, because I’d swear I’ve seen more hits from Boston in 4 games of the Stanley Cup finals than I saw from the Avs in 82 regular season games.
I’d take most of these subjective stats with a large grain of salt.
Mr. Fuji, the devious ways that you put in my mind will come to use.
by Dan Winkler on Jun 9, 2011 3:21 PM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
In honor of the 10-year anniversary of our shared fandom event of a lifetime, this post is getting recked by me. I agree 110%. I used to be amazed at how Skoula’s turnovers disappeared somehow on the home game stat sheets.
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
by Bob in Boulder on Jun 9, 2011 3:25 PM MDT up reply actions
Skoula was shooting from the defensive zone, thus not a turnover.
Available for a 3rd round pick.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jun 9, 2011 6:22 PM MDT up reply actions
He’s either a bad #2 center or an average #3, he has room to grow but brutal on the PK.
Available for a 3rd round pick.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jun 9, 2011 7:29 AM MDT reply actions
PKs are absolutely based on a system and if that system is faulty, no amount of singular skill is going to make it good. Look at McClement. He’s considered one of the best PKers in the league and he still failed on the Avs at that.
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 7:51 AM MDT up reply actions
I’m really curious about that comment, that PKs are based on the system. Not trying to stir anything up, but are you saying that there are some PK systems that are better than others? If that’s the case, then why don’t all teams use the “best” system (whatever that might be)?
As I pointed out the other day, Winnik was part of a really good PK his last year in Phx, and part of a really bad PK here. But how much of that is the difference between Bryz and whoever was in net for us? Last year the Avs were dead last, 76%. The year before they were 21st, 80%. They added Dan Winnik, who was part of an excellent PK in Phx, and Radar was a year older, so the forwards, if anything, should have improved. It’s safe to say the system didn’t change. What, then, was the difference? Well, there were 2 differences.
First of all, the play of goalies was much worse this year than last.
Secondly, the main PK defensemen from 2 years ago were Hannan and Quincey, neither of whom came close to matching those PK minutes this year.
I’m not sure how I’d break it down – 50/50 between the goalies and Hannan/Quincey, 30/70, whatever. But those are the main differences between the group that allowed 75 power play goals and the team that the year before allowed 60.
Finally, I don’t agree that McClement failed on the PK here. I thought the PK got a lot better once we acquired him. That’s the eye test talking, i’m not smart enough to quickly figure out our PK percentage once he got here.
Mr. Fuji, the devious ways that you put in my mind will come to use.
by Dan Winkler on Jun 9, 2011 11:14 AM MDT up reply actions
Perhaps a better word would be strategy? Not one strategy will work with all teams, but clearly, whatever “strategy” the Avs have been using the past two seasons isn’t working. Like I said, you can have the best PKer in the league, but if you put him with a group that’s not clicking, he won’t single handedly make it a good PK.
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions
The penalty kill system has to start with the talent you have to work with. You tailor it to the strengths of the individual players. Did they even have time last season to practice with one set of players before they had to replace an injured guy?
Did they evenhave time last season topractice
fixed. and I can say from watching practices that answer would be not as often as you’d think.
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 12:38 PM MDT up reply actions
I’m of the opinion our PK forwards are quite good. It’s the defense and goalies that are making it shitty. The forwards don’t have nearly as large an effect on PK success as the other spots.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
Hensick stats: 13 games, 1g/2a/3p THOMAS/DETAVS: I WANT MY $20
That makes a lot of sense.
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 11:57 AM MDT up reply actions
I too think our PK forwards are fine.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Jun 9, 2011 9:39 PM MDT up reply actions
I think his Pk slump was a result of the system. Remember him a tj last year? I love this kid and he’ll be Selke caliber at some point I think.
I am excited about the 5 centers entering next year story line because that is one nice problem to have.
How long until Toronto gives up on Stastny and trades Tim Horton doughnuts for Radar.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
by c6hor8 on Jun 9, 2011 7:52 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
postulate: the biggest thing holding back RoR’s offense since his point streak is a lack of talented wings. He hasn’t had wings like Gali, Jones, and Stewie since then.
discuss.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
Hensick stats: 13 games, 1g/2a/3p THOMAS/DETAVS: I WANT MY $20
Kill me.
/thread
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Darcy Tucker Brandon Yip
Darcy Tucker Brandon Yip
Darcy Tucker Brandon YIp
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 8:23 AM MDT up reply actions
the biggest thing holding backRoR’soffense sincehispointsstreakis a lack of talented wings.
If it’s true for the whole team, it’s likely true for Radar too
by MalachiConstant on Jun 9, 2011 8:29 AM MDT up reply actions
the biggest thing holding back the AvsRoR’s offense since his points streakis a lack of talentedwings.
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
by Bob in Boulder on Jun 9, 2011 10:16 AM MDT up reply actions
Now see that’s justmeantrue
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
by Bob in Boulder on Jun 9, 2011 11:11 AM MDT up reply actions
"The collective."
Whoever wrote that deserves a raise.
So are you guys saying that Radar played D+ hockey in the 2nd half of the season? Because he got a B+ in the first half.
I actually enjoyed the Ryan O’Reilly experience when he was in the top 6. I was very surprised at the skills and creativity he showed.
I think it’s a very difficult position for a younger guy to be in. He’s the youngest 3rd line center in the league. It’s an old man’s position, for the most part.
Mr. Fuji, the devious ways that you put in my mind will come to use.
by Dan Winkler on Jun 9, 2011 10:52 AM MDT reply actions
I’m still confused by levels of expectations. How does he compare to other 3rd line centers that get no power play time? Third line centers seem to rarely tip the 15 goal mark. With all of O’Reilly’s defensive zone faceoffs and the poor zone clears I’m surprised his numbers are even that good.
I'll keep this brief.
don’t put too much thought into it. we didn’t
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 9, 2011 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Did you read this see six whores????!!!!!!!
If so, grade accordingly. Hell, it’s practically like an ad for this guy.
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
by Bob in Boulder on Jun 9, 2011 2:20 PM MDT up reply actions
Would you say O’Reilly had a better or worse season than Greg Mauldin? Take their roles into account if you have to. It’s just odd to me that Radar gets a C range grade while Mauldin is a B range.
/srs thread
Have we drafted Larsson yet?
Because a C+ is different than a B-
In Rick Pracey we trust
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 9, 2011 7:21 PM MDT up reply actions
its all about how they did vs. expectations, I would say.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
Hensick stats: 13 games, 1g/2a/3p THOMAS/DETAVS: I WANT MY $20
A few things factor in, yeah
How they performed versus expectations and their general role. You don’t look at a guy like Mauldin, who played very well for the majority of his time in Colorado, and grade him on the same scale as a guy like O’Reilly because they’re different players with different roles and certainly different expectations. This was supposed to be a stepping stone season for Radar and while it wasn’t a Galiardi-esque failure, it was only a minor step in the right direction. Mauldin was a guy who lit up Training Camp Day One and then all expectations went into the toilet from there and he played light a man on fire for his first 15-20 games. He fell off the table for those handful of games and because the role he plays is fairly easily replaced, especially with our current roster construction where 4th line guys are a dime a dozen, and you can afford to role the dice and try to catch lightning in a bottle with someone else.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Mile High Hockey : Where B- is different than C+
by A.J. Haefele on Jun 10, 2011 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions
Not at all, brotha. Not at all.
Funk forever. Just decided to take the real name plunge in light of an announcement I’ll be making here in a bit.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Mile High Hockey : Where B- is different than C+
by A.J. Haefele on Jun 10, 2011 10:12 AM MDT up reply actions
I think someone may have leaked the news.
It's all about the A-
by Sandie Gauthier on Jun 10, 2011 12:08 PM MDT up reply actions
Yeah
Cheryl decided to tell everyone before everything was finalized. Sure hope it works out now! =p
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Mile High Hockey : Where B- is different than C+
by A.J. Haefele on Jun 10, 2011 1:02 PM MDT up reply actions
Yay it did =)
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Mile High Hockey : Where B- is different than C+
by A.J. Haefele on Jun 10, 2011 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions
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