Blues Acquire O'Reilly In Blockbuster Trade

Sunday ended up being a big day for the St. Louis Blues, they weren't finished yet upgrading their roster for the 2018-2019 season. After signing David Perron, Tyler Bozak, and Chad Johnson they worked a trade with the Buffalo Sabers to get center Ryan O'Reilly. For O'Reilly the Blues give the Buffalo Sabers center Tage Thompson, center Vladimir Sobotka, left wing/center Patrik Berglund, a first round pick in 2019, and a second round pick in 2021. The first round pick is top ten protected, which means if the Blues finish in the top 10 they get to keep the pick.

O'Reilly, 27, was probably the top free agent available for a team to get. Last season, he broke Rod Brind'Amour's single season faceoff record (1,269). The new faceoff record is (1,274). Blues star forward, Vladimir Tarasenko also needed someone who can help get him the puck. O'Reilly is that type of player who can accomplish that. He was an All-Star for the first time in 2015-2016.

O'Reilly is entering his tenth season, he's played in 651 games, 155 goals, 267 assists, 422 points, and is -53. He gets about 50-60 points every seasons. His career in goals was 28 back in 2013-2014, when he played for the Colorado Avalanche. That season he also had a career in points with 64. In the playoffs O'Reilly has played in 13 games, 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, and is a plus 3.

What to the Sabers get? Tage Thompson, 20, was the Blues fourth best prospect. He played in 41 games last season, with 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, and a -12. He probably was one of the keys to the trade, along with the draft picks. He should be able to help the Sabers who are rebuilding and trying to become better.

Sobotka, 32, can be a reliable player at times. Last season was his first season back in the NHL, after playing in Russia for a few seasons. Sobotka played in a career high 81 games, with another career high 11 goals. He had 31 points, which were two away from tying his career high in points. He didn't show his toughness as much as he had before going to play in Russia.

He's entering his tenth season in the NHL, he's played in 463 games, 47 goals, 108 assists, 155 points, and is a -4. In the playoffs Sobotka has played 51 games, 5 goals, 13 assists, and 18 points.

Berglund, 30, tends to be hot and cold a lot of the time. He goes on streaks where he's good, and then other streaks where he isn't good. His best season came in 2010-2011, when he had 52 points.

He's is entering his eleventh season, he's played in 694 games, 168 goals, 154 assists, 322 points, and is a plus 10. In the playoffs Berglund has played 60 games, 10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points, and is a -1.

The trade should help both teams. Both the Blues and Sabers got what they wanted if they were to make a trade. The Blues have improved their roster a lot on the first day of free agency. Will they have a few more moves or are they finished? Right now it looks like a good offseason for the Blues.