Coach Patrick Roy doesn't think Ryan O'Reilly's rocky contract situation is anything personal. "At this time of the year, it's no different for other teams. It's an unpleasant time. It's a negotiation, and Ryan has to do what he thinks is the best," said Roy. "Obviously, as a team, you always wish players are buying into your structure, buying into your plan, and Joe (Sakic) is doing a super job. He's the one dealing with the contracts. From a coaching perspective, I don't see it as a problem." Sakic hasn't spoken with O'Reilly's agent, Pat Morris, since the team filed for salary arbitration.

Joe Sakic said Monday that there has been contact between the Avalanche and Pat Morris, the agent for Ryan O'Reilly, since the team filed for arbitration earlier in the month. Sakic has previously stated that the Avs would like to keep O'Reilly in a Colorado uniform "for a long time", but the filing for arbitration was a calculated move by the club. Although the two sides haven't negotiated of late, there remains a decent chance he could re-sign with the team.

Ryan O'Reilly called the Colorado Avalanche deciding to file for arbitration against him a "smart" move on their part. O'Reilly admitted that he's a little frustrated that he's stuck in contract limbo again, but he's confident something will be worked out. The reason the Avalanche filed for arbitration was probably so that they could lock him up to something less than the $6.5 million he earned in 2013-14.

Ryan O'Reilly is the favorite to win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. O'Reilly, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, is listed as the 2/3 favorite by oddsmakers. Patrick Marleau (who has been nominated for the Byng before) is listed as 5/1, while three-time winner (including last season) Martin St. Louis is listed as 14/1. The Trophy will be awarded in a tape-delayed broadcast from Las Vegas next week.

Ryan O'Reilly apparently had shoulder surgery recently, which he is still recovering from. He's expected to be ready for training camp, but it will be interesting to see which team he'll be playing for by then. He appears to be embroiled in another sticky contract situation with the Avalanche and there's a possibility that he could be traded.

Executive Vice President of hockey operations Joe Sakic says the Avalanche intend to have Ryan O'Reilly signed for a "long time." The relationship between Colorado and O'Reilly has turned a bit sour again with regard to his perceived monetary value. "We just have a different point of view on where the starting point is," said Sakic. "His agent, Pat, seems to think he signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal and forgot about the $3.5 million first year." Contract negotiations were contentious between the two sides before he signed a two-year, $10 million deal after the lockout ended in 2013. It wouldn't be surprising if it all resulted in O'Reilly being traded elsewhere, but for now the Avalanche appear to be focused on re-signing him.

The Colorado Avalanche might want to trade Ryan O'Reilly sooner rather than later. The Avalanche have already file for club-elected salary arbitration with O'Reilly in the hopes of forcing him to take less than the $6.5 million contract he would have gotten had Colorado qualified him instead. Coming off a 28-goal, 64-point season, O'Reilly might counter by signing another offer sheet with another club. That would put the Avalanche in a position where they would either have to match the deal or accept draft picks in return for the 23-year-old forward. Given that those draft picks won't be particularly appealing if O'Reilly signs with a good team, it's probable that Colorado will match the deal, but that would put them in a position where they won't be able to trade him for a calender year. O'Reilly's window to sign an offer sheet is from July 1-5, so this could play out very quickly.

The Colorado Avalanche filed for salary arbitration with pending free agent forward Ryan O'Reilly. They would have needed to qualify him to a tune of $6.5 million, so it's easy to see why the two sides are engaged in another awkward contract negotiation situation. Other teams can send him an offer sheet and Colorado could still sign a deal with him in the interim. He scored 28 goals (six GWGs) and 64 points last season, so one way or another, he won't be cheap.

Restricted free agent Ryan O'Reilly could become the highest-paid player on the Colorado Avalanche. O'Reilly received a two-year, $10 million deal during the lockout-shortened season after holding out and he has plenty of bargaining power this time around too. He led the team with 28 goals and produced 64 points in 80 games. Matt Duchene will earn a team-high $6 million next season, as his new contract extension will kick in. It isn't clear if the Avalanche can keep O'Reilly and potential unrestricted free agent Paul Stastny.

Ryan O'Reilly and the Avalanche were a dejected bunch after losing Game 7 in overtime Wednesday night. "Home ice is great, a good thing to have. But who cares? You don't win a Cup," he said. "That's the only thing that matters. We had moments where we played like a Cup team but other times when we didn't look like we belonged at all." Colorado had four leads in Game 7, but couldn't fend off the Wild and eventually lost 5-4 in the first extra session. O'Reilly posted six points in the series.