- Elliotte Friedman says the Predators appear ready to retool and other teams have wanted Ryan O’Reilly for years
- The 35-year-old center is a pending UFA with seven goals and 14 points through 13 games
- Read below for his contract, his numbers and where Nashville stands
Ryan O’Reilly is now on the trade radar in Nashville.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote in his latest 32 Thoughts column that O’Reilly is a pending UFA, the Predators appear ready to accept a retool, and other teams “have been lusting after him for years.” Friedman added that he doesn’t believe there has been much conversation about an extension.
The note came as Friedman was discussing Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer won it in overtime, but Friedman pointed out that O’Reilly logged 4:27 of that same extra period killing a penalty. At 17 years older than Schaefer, he wrote, O’Reilly could be the teenager’s father.
The numbers explain the interest. O’Reilly has seven goals and 14 points through 13 games, with four of those goals coming on the power play and two of them game-winners.
He also had a four-point night against Colorado on Oct. 25, which we covered in our O’Reilly four-point game story. Catch the highlights from that 6-2 win:
Here is the full picture on the 35-year-old:
| Age | 35 |
| 2026-27 production | 7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 13 games |
| Power-play goals | 4 |
| Game-winning goals | 2 |
| Shooting percentage | 25.9 (7 goals on 27 shots) |
| Cap hit | $4.5 million |
| Contract status | Expires after this season, pending UFA |
Nashville sits at 4-4-5 after missing the playoffs the last two seasons. GM Chris MacFarland was hired this summer, and the roster has already been in flux, including the Jayden Struble trade with Montreal. We took a look at the plan earlier this season in our Predators outlook on MacFarland.
Friedman did not say a deal is close, and he did not name a suitor. He only said the pieces are in place for teams to start asking.
Seven goals in 13 games on a $4.5 million deal is the kind of production that gets phones ringing.
