Maple Leafs make major trade acquiring Ryan O’Reilly from the St. Louis Blues for a first-round pick

The Toronto Maple Leafs snagged considered one of the largest trade candidates in the NHL market late Friday evening after they made a deal for St. Louis Blues heart Ryan O’Reilly in a three-team trade.

Toronto acquires the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner in addition to ahead Noel Acciari from the Blues in trade for forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette, Toronto’s 2023 first-round pick, Ottawa’s 2023 third-round pick, and Toronto’s 2024 second-round pick.

As a part of the deal, St. Louis acquired then traded Minnesota Wild prospect Josh Pillar to Toronto – whereas Toronto despatched Minnesota a 2025 fourth-round pick by means of the Blues.

To make the deal even sweeter for Toronto, O’Reilly will solely be on their books at a value of 25 % of his wage. St. Louis retained 50 % as a part of the deal whereas Minnesota retained the closing 25 %.

While the deal is massive at 9 items, it helps the Maple Leafs massively in an space of want on their second and third traces – whereas Acciari helps to spice up the group’s depth scoring.

Ryan O’Reilly is now a Toronto Maple Leaf after being traded in a three-team deal on Friday

Adam Gaudette (heart) is now headed to St Louis at a part of the big NHL trade

It will all be a a part of Toronto’s quest to not solely win their first Stanley Cup since 1967, however to make it out of the first spherical of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

He joins a excessive powered offense that’s eighth in common targets per recreation and has 4 gamers in the top-30 in scoring in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares.

O’Reilly arrived in St. Louis by way of a trade in 2018 from the Buffalo Sabres that despatched him to the Blues whereas Buffalo obtained two draft picks and forwards Tage Thompson, Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund. 

In St. Louis, O’Reilly gained his first Stanley Cup – the franchise’s first ever – alongside the Selke Trophy as the league’s finest defensive ahead and the Conn Smythe as the most beneficial participant of the playoffs.

Moreover, O’Reilly was named the Blues captain in 2020 when former chief Alex Pietrangelo departed for the Vegas Golden Knights in free company.

So far this season, O’Reilly has slumped – solely placing up 12 targets and 7 assists for 19 factors in 40 video games.

However, because of his potential to play at each heart and left wing, Toronto picks up a invaluable choice.

Noel Acciari is one other piece heading to Toronto as the Maple Leafs eye a Stanley Cup run

On the third line between left winger Pierre Engvall and proper winger Calle Jarnkrok – who’ve mixed for 45 factors in 101 mixed video games – O’Reilly will present a much-needed veteran presence.

On the second line as a left winger alongside Tavares and Marner – who’ve a mixed 120 factors in 110 video games – he’ll add defensive assist the group may need down the stretch of a deep Stanley Cup playoff run.

Meanwhile, Acciari and the Maple Leafs are very acquainted with one another – as the Johnston, Rhode Island native performed for his hometown group the Boston Bruins.

In two straight postseasons, Acciari helped the Bruins beat the Leafs in Game 7 of the first spherical to knock Toronto out. He has ten targets and eight assists for 18 factors in 54 video games – principally performed on the fourth line.

Both Gaudette and Abramov have but to play in the NHL this season – with each having hung out in the American Hockey League.