Coyotes Acquire Cal O'Reilly

Trade Details:

The Phoenix Coyotes acquired Cal O'Reilly from the Nashville Predators for a 4th-round draft pick in 2012.

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Phoenix Coyotes Acquire:

C- Cal O'Reilly CONTRACT: $1,050,000 Cap-Hit (Expires: 2012) Important Facts: - His first full NHL season (2010-11) was shortened to only 38 games due to a right leg injury that forced him to miss 44 regular season games and 12 post season games. - Ryan O'Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche, is his younger brother

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Nashville Predators Acquire:

Fourth Round Draft Pick (2012) Important Facts: - Coyotes own pick

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Analysis:

This pretty much seals the deal (in case you somehow didn't believe yet) that Kyle Turris will not be returning to the Phoenix Coyotes any time soon. The Coyotes had a big hole down the middle left in Turris' absence which they had to plug up soon. Enter Cal O'Reilly; a twenty-five year old center, who has put up big numbers in the AHL and before his injury last season was doing well in the NHL. He does a great job at distributing the puck, and when he has good line-mates, he racks up the points. I do believe he must become a little bit more well rounded in regards to his play in his own zone and with out the puck on his stick, but I think he could do it if he's given the proper guidance by the Coyotes. While the Coyotes were trying to build some depth, the Predators were trying to make some room. With Martin Erat returning from the IR, the Predators had to move someone and because they also recently got Mike Fisher back to the line-up, they knew that it was going to be one of the centers that gets the gate. The choice was really between Blake Geoffrion or Cal O'Reilly, but because Geoffrion is more suited for the fourth line (where the empty spot was)style of play, he would be the better candidate to remain. So that ultimately led to O'Reilly's departure for a mid-round pick in this years draft which is nothing to scoff at give in the fact that this years draft is seemingly the deepest the NHL has seen in a long..long time.