O'Reilly sensed that change was coming.
"I thought it would be done quicker if it was to happen. That was my mindset," he said. "I was more focused on my own game and what I could've really done differently. It wasn't the year I wanted to have. Leadership-wise I wasn't in the spot. I could've made some changes and been the guy. That's what I'm really focused on.
"You can't say the past guys were the reason. I look at myself. There were a lot of things I could've done differently. When things don't go well, changes are] made. I think that's what [owners Terry and Kim Pegula] did. I support them. It's really on myself, though. There's lots of things I could change in that room and will change."
[Jason Botterill was hired as general manager on Thursday
. Botterill, a former NHL forward, was an associate GM with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the past three seasons after joining their front office in 2007. He was promoted from director of hockey administration to assistant GM in 2009.
The news quickly found its way to O'Reilly, who is playing for Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Paris and Cologne, Germany, through May 21.
"Hearing it on the news, it's good," he said. "The Pegulas, they're great and they want to win and if things don't work they make changes. I'm definitely excited for it. I've heard great things. I haven't had a chance to talk to [Botterill] yet at all, but I'm sure when things wind down over here I'll get in touch with him. I'm excited."