Colorado Avalanche sit atop the league with dynamite depth and trade chatter about Ryan O'Reilly swirling inside the Central Division rumor mill.
The Avs are 27-2-7 and crushing opponents, and there's real risk in tinkering with a machine that's working at such a blistering pace.
One big reason the Colorado Avalanche should not trade for Ryan O'Reilly.
Graham Tiedtke from Mile High Sticking writes that O'Reilly has deep history with Colorado, he was drafted and developed here, and fans remember his grit. But nostalgia doesn't win Cups, production and fit do.
Right now Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and the forward group have chemistry that's translating into wins every night, and that's not something you want to break up lightly.
Adding a veteran like Ryan O'Reilly would mean moving salary and roster pieces, and on paper that could require giving up someone who's currently part of Colorado's success story.
There's one big reason the Avalanche should hold off on making that move, and it boils down to team rhythm and cap reality.
Colorado's depth pivot situation looks strong enough right now, and forcing a veteran into a defined role can backfire in playoff hockey.
A player like O'Reilly, with a $4.5 million cap hit, would need a meaningful piece coming back the other way, meaning the Avs would weaken elsewhere to bolster a third-line center.
The concern isn't about O'Reilly's skill set, it's about disrupting a lineup clicking on all cylinders, and potentially overpaying to bring someone back who may not elevate the top lines.
At 34 and approaching age 35, the veteran's best days are behind him, and while his experience could help in four rounds of playoff hockey, that doesn't guarantee more wins than what the current roster delivers.
Colorado's front office has shown it values flexibility and draft capital, and using that to chase a reunion just because a name feels familiar could be short-sighted.
If the Avalanche stay patient and let their current core continue to gel, they may not need to make a splash move at all to chase another Stanley Cup.