Last week Nashville Predators fans got to hear from recently signed free agent Ryan O'Reilly. The 32 year old center shared his optimism for what a newly constructed Predators roster could do in the near future.
"I think the veteran players that are here right now - the way they impact the game is so impressive," O'Reilly said. "Watching last year and the youth and what they do, there's a great balance of both. I think we can take a step and be right there to compete for a Cup."
O'Reilly talked about playing in Bridgestone Arena and being on the home side of the Nashville crowd, signing with the Predators at the same time his brother signed with the Milwaukee Admirals, and the appeal of the city for himself and his family. His longstanding relationships with both Barry Trotz and Andrew Brunette also factored into his decision to sign with the Predators. Despite all of the positives of coming to Nashville, O'Reilly revealed in an interview with First Up on TSN 1050 on Monday that leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs was not an easy decision.
"It was not an easy decision by any means to leave Toronto," O'Reilly said. "There's a lot that goes into it."
The Leafs were interested in signing O'Reilly this offseason after acquiring him in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on February 18. It was a return home for the Clinton, ON native. Although the Leafs were disappointed with the way their season ultimately ended, O'Reilly enjoyed his time there.
"It was incredible," he said. "I loved my time there. It was such an amazing experience. Being from Ontario and playing for all my friends' favorite team. It was amazing."
After O"Reilly signed with the Predators, Maple Leafs' GM Brad Treliving speculated that playing in Toronto in front of a hometown crowd may have been "a thing" for O"Reilly. In yesterday's conversation, O"Reilly addressed the pressure and scrutiny that came with that spotlight and how it may have played a part in his decision to sign somewhere else.
"It is different," O'Reilly said when asked about the pressure of playing in Toronto. "I think there's so many things that come into play, but I think that was a factor as well. I just felt it was better to be somewhere else."
That somewhere else is on a Nashville Predators team that will look to O'Reilly for his experience on and off the ice. While Nashville may not be a "spotlight" market like Toronto, expectations for the veteran center are high as he helps lead the Predators into an important new chapter.
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