O'Reilly to play 1,000th NHL game, has 'a lot left to give' Predators

NASHVILLE -- Ryan O'Reilly will reach a milestone for longevity Tuesday, but the Nashville Predators forward said he is nowhere near the end of the line in his NHL career.

"It is funny because I'm still in the middle of it," O'Reilly said. "I still feel I have a lot left to give this game and a lot to do still. It's funny, you're always answering questions about reflecting and what's gone on so far. I still feel like a kid out here, trying to get better, trying to make an impact and win. It really is just the best job ever. I've been so lucky to make it this far and hopefully a lot longer."

O'Reilly will play his milestone game when the Predators visit the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSO).

The 32-year-old has played 427 games with the Colorado Avalanche, 327 with the St. Louis Blues, 224 with the Buffalo Sabres, 13 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and eight with the Predators. He signed a four-year, $18 million contract with Nashville as an unrestricted free agent July 1.

"It's crazy to think of," O'Reilly said. "It's a lot of hockey. I expected last year to hit [1,000 games]. I had a bunch of injuries (53 games played). This year feels just like so busy with just kind of getting used to a new team, new city and everything like that. I haven't had a ton of time to think about it, but I obviously know it's coming and it's a really exciting thing.

"I think it's an amazing milestone. I'm very lucky. I've been, for the most part, very healthy and I've had some great training staffs and such that have helped keep me healthy. I'm very fortunate, very excited for it and I think it's going to be a fun time."

O'Reilly was chosen by the Avalanche in the second round (No. 33) of the 2009 NHL Draft. He was traded to the Sabres on June 26, 2015, and had three straight seasons of at least 55 points. It was the trade to the Blues on July 1, 2018, that helped put his career on a whole new level. In his first season with St. Louis, he helped the Blues to their first Stanley Cup championship, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Predators coach Andrew Brunette knows what it's like to reach 1,000 games as a player with 1,110 NHL games over 16 seasons. He said it's an extremely impressive accomplishment to reach as a player, but sometimes the attention that comes with reaching that number can make a player feel some mixed emotions.

"It becomes reflective and a little bit melancholy because you're like ‘Jeez, it's been that long.' It has mixed emotions," Brunette said. "You're extremely proud of the number, but everything that goes into it is a little bizarre."

O'Reilly has made an immediate impact with the Predators (4-4-0). He has six points (four goals, two assists) in eight games and his teammates have been effusive with their praise about his work ethic and the example he sets with his practice habits.

"We knew what we were getting," Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. "He's awesome. He's one of the hardest-working guys. You see it in the games, you see it in practice. He goes to those hard areas. He scores goals like that. He's been doing it for 999 games."