Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Power Rankings: #9
Ryan O’Reilly is our ninth-best center in the Eastern Conference. He’s a newbie, as he was just traded to the Buffalo Sabres from the Colorado Avalanche this summer. Thanks to his reputation as one of the best centers in the NHL, he’s included in this countdown.
O’Reilly is a prototypical franchise center. He can contribute at even strength, on the powerplay and on the penalty kill. He’s the kind of center you can build a franchise around. Like Eichel, I had some concerns about him because of how bad Buffalo’s defensemen were, but Franson gives me enough confidence that he can be really good for the Sabres.
He ranks 14th among Eastern Conference centers in even-strength points per 60 minutes (1.92). Note that two of his former teammates are ahead of him, but they aren’t in the Eastern Conference. His 0.74 even-strength goals per 60 minutes rank 19th. His even-strength assist rate of 1.18 assists per 60 minutes is also 19th. He didn’t have the best of linemates while in Colorado, so that makes his production even more impressive.
Where O’Reilly separates himself from other NHL centers is (you guessed it) possession. O’Reilly ranks in the top ten among Eastern Conference centers in even-strength HSCF% relative (5.78%), even-strength SCF% relative (4.94%), even-strength CF% relative (3.98%), and even-strength FenClose% relative (5.60%).
O’Reilly has proven that he doesn’t need great teammates to be great. The Sabres are going to love him and Jack Eichel has about as good of an on-ice role model as a rookie could dream of having in O’Reilly.
Next: #8