Early contract disputes with the Colorado Avalanche, made it clear that Ryan O' Reilly wasn't going to stay a a restricted free agent for long.
According to ESPN reporter Pierre LeBrun, Calgary announced Thursday that they signed an offer sheet with O'Reilly.
The Flames offered a 2 year/$10 million contract, which is what O'Reilly had been asking for from Colorado. The Avalanche have until March 7 to make a counter offer. If they refuse to make a counter offer, they will receive a first- and third- round draft pick.
The Avalanche may have to get over the fact that they don't want to pay O'Reilly more than they are paying Matt Duchene, $3.5 million, if they want to keep one of their star centers. Duchene and O'Reilly are the same age, 22, and both came to the team in 2009.
O'Reilly had a stand-out 2011-2012 season, collecting a total of 55 points for the team. Is that enough for the Avalanche to make a counter offer?
The Avalanche won't comment on the situation until the deadline date. No counter offer, would be losing one of the best young players this franchise has had, and could be a detrimental mistake for this young team.
Update as of 2/28: According to Avalanche radio announcer, Mark Moser,it looks like Avs will make a counter offer to Calgary's offer.
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