O'Reilly eager to join Josi with Predators, 'bring a Cup' to Nashville

NASHVILLE -- Ryan O'Reilly is looking forward to bringing leadership and experience to a Nashville Predators team that features some talented prospects.

He's also eager to play with some of the longtime Predators players, including defenseman Roman Josi, forward Filip Forsberg and goalie Juuse Saros.

That combination proved intriguing enough for the 32-year-old center to sign a four-year, $18 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value) with Nashville on July 1.

"I think the veteran players that are here right now, the way they impact the game is so impressive," O'Reilly said Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. "I think, too, watching last year and the youth, and what they do, there's a great balance of both. Me coming here, I think it was something I look forward to. I think we can take a step and be right there competing for the [Stanley] Cup."

After 14 seasons in the NHL, O'Reilly has plenty of familiarity with the Predators after playing the past five seasons with the St. Louis Blues before they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 17.

He said he's looking forward to playing with Josi, Nashville's captain, instead of against him.

"It's nice I'm not going to be chasing him around anymore, like the last few years," O'Reilly said. "He [gave me a] lot of issues. But to finally be playing with him, we've known each other for many years now, and he's such an incredible guy and incredible player. Such a great leader, too. I'm excited to follow him and have success and bring a Cup here."

O'Reilly said he also liked what he saw from the group of younger Predators, including 24-year-old center Cody Glass, 22-year-old center Juuso Parssinen, 21-year-old center Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators and 21-year-old forward Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators, who helped keep the team in playoff contention last season despite a depleted roster after forwards Nino Niederreiter, Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators, Mikael Granlund and defenseman Mattias Ekholm were dealt prior to the NHL Trade Deadline. In addition, Nashville was without injured players like Josi, Forsberg, centers Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene, and defenseman Ryan McDonagh for significant stretches.

The Predators finished 42-32-8 and failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. They finished three points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card from the Western Conference.

Johansen and Duchene each has since left Nashville; Johansen was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on June 24, and Duchene signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1.

"[What the young players did was] obviously impressive," O'Reilly said. "I think injuries just got to them, and [people were] thinking they were going to fall off and kind of fizzle out. Seeing the youth kind of take control and bring this team to almost make the playoffs was very impressive. I think that caught everyone's eye, that there's some great talent coming up here. Definitely special."

A three-year captain in St. Louis, O'Reilly won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs in 2018-19, when he helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in a seven-game series against the Boston Bruins.

O'Reilly has 702 points (256 goals, 446 assists) in 991 NHL games with the Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres, Blues and Maple Leafs and 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 75 playoff games.

He said his style of leadership can be vocal at times and example at times.

"I think it changes as the year goes on," O'Reilly said. "I think reading the group, too, and understanding what needs to happen at the right time. But I think on the ice I can be very vocal. In the room, too, I try to be vocal there, too, but lead by example in many ways. I think it's a whole combination of everything and yeah, I think I can bring that in many ways and also think, hopefully, grow in many ways."

O'Reilly, likely to debut as Nashville's first-line center, said he feels good about the state of his game.

The Clinton, Ontario, native had 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 40 games for the Blues before the trade to Toronto. Despite missing about a month with a broken finger following the trade, O'Reilly had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 13 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 playoff games.

"I feel a lot better," O'Reilly said. "Obviously the start of the [2022-23] season wasn't great. And obviously in St. Louis, we didn't have the year we wanted to. The trade happens and you come to a team that's on the cusp of winning.

"For me, it was a refreshing start, got to just play in an environment that [had] a slightly more offensive focus. Did very well. I enjoyed it … I liked my second half a lot better than my first half."

One benefit of signing with Nashville is O'Reilly will be in the same organization as his older brother. The Predators recently signed center Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators, 36, to a one-year American Hockey League contract.

Cal O'Reilly was selected by Nashville in the fifth round (No. 150) of the 2005 NHL Draft and played in 85 games for the Predators over four seasons. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2017-18.

"It's awesome, yeah, the two of us," Ryan O'Reilly said. "I found out I was coming here and was so excited to be able to do that.

"To see he's coming with me, to be a part of it as well, and to get to share that as brothers, especially late in our careers, and to be able to do it and still be playing and healthy, is something we're excited for. Both our parents, too, couldn't be happier."

Photo courtesy: Rebekah Mohrmann/Nashville Predators