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Cal O'Reilly

Philadelphia Flyers Add Cal O’Reilly On PTO

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In conjunction with announcing today’s training camp cuts, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher also announced that the team has added veteran forward Cal O’Reilly to camp on a professional tryout (PTO).

O’Reilly, 35, hasn’t played in the NHL since a one-game call-up to the Minnesota Wild in 2017-18. Before that, however, he spent quite a bit of time bouncing up and down between the NHL and AHL. After the Nashville Predators selected him 150th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, he stayed in the organization through the beginning of the 2011-12 season. In Nashville, O’Reilly never managed to crack the lineup full-time but did finish his Predators career with 11 goals, 24 assists and 35 points in 85 games. Just a few weeks into the season, though, Nashville dealt O’Reilly to the then-Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth-round pick, essentially moving up one round in total value while also getting a solid, yet brief NHL stint out of O’Reilly. After just five points in 22 games, though, the Coyotes attempted to waive O’Reilly, whom the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed for the remainder of the season, where he had one assist in six games.

After playing 33 games in that busy 2011-12 season, O’Reilly would only see NHL ice again in three more seasons: 20 games with the Buffalo Sabres in 2015-16, another 11 games with the Sabres in 2016-17, and that one-game call-up in Minnesota in 2017-18. O’Reilly did remain in the Wild organization for another season after that, though, serving as the captain of the AHL’s Iowa Wild from 2017 to 2019.

O’Reilly’s technically been in the Flyers organization ever since, spending the last three seasons as a leader for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Already signed to an AHL contract for 2022-23, O’Reilly will enter his third straight season as the Phantoms’ captain. His 53 points last season were his most since he scored 67 points in 67 games during his last season in Iowa.

With Philadelphia’s depth continuing to get hit by injuries, the Flyers will have O’Reilly in camp to evaluate if he’s still NHL call-up material at age 35. He essentially comes in (maybe just temporarily) to replace one of the team’s other PTO additions, Artem Anisimov, who currently is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Ribeiro, Marchenko On Waivers; Three Players Clear

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The Nashville Predators have placed center Mike Ribeiro on waivers, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean.

We reported earlier this morning that Ribeiro may have asked for a trade out of Nashville. He was a healthy scratch for the Predators past three games and five of their past 11. Ribeiro has four goals and 25 points in 46 games so far this season. This is his third year in Nashville, but the first year he’s struggled to produce. Ribeiro had 62 and 50 points in his first two seasons in Nashville. The first sign of trouble was likely in the playoffs last season, when he was a healthy scratch twice while posting just two assists in 12 games. Vingan writes that Ribeiro is the most sheltered player in the NHL this season, starting more than half his shifts in the offensive zone. When Vingan asked coach Peter Laviolette about Ribeiro, all he said was “he’s a member of our team.” That’s not exactly a vote of confidence.

In addition, the Detroit Red Wings have placed Alexey Marchenko on waivers, per Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Marchenko has six assists in 30 games with the Red Wings this season. He also represented Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The right-handed Marchenko is on waivers to make room for defenseman Brendan Smith, who will be activated off IR tomorrow, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Devils tough guy Luke Gazdic, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Eric Gelinas, and the Buffalo Sabres center Cal O’Reilly all cleared waivers.

Gazdic signed with the Devils as a free agent back in July. He had spent the previous few seasons in Edmonton, and actually lived with superstar Taylor Hall, who was traded to New Jersey just days before Gazdic signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K. He has no points and 12 PIM in 10 games with the Devils so far. He has two assists in 13 AHL games this season. He’s already cleared waivers once this season.

Gelinas, a former Devil, was traded to Colorado for a third round pick at last year’s trade deadline. He has a single assist in 26 games. His $1.575MM contract is likely why he cleared waivers. Should he be assigned to the AHL, he’ll account for $625K on the Avalanche’s salary cap. Gelinas’ roster spot will likely go to Mark Barberio, who was claimed off waivers from Montreal on Thursday.

O’Reilly is the older brother of Sabres’ star Ryan O’Reilly. He has one assist in 11 games, but is much better at the AHL level. He has 34 points (8-26-34) in 36 games. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Buffalo is looking for an upgrade at the fourth line center position (which O’Reilly had been occupying) via the trade market.

Cal O’Reilly, Luke Gazdic, And Eric Gelinas Placed On Waivers

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A trio of players are entering their second stints on the waiver wire as center Cal O’Reilly (Buffalo), winger Luke Gazdic (New Jersey), and defenseman Eric Gelinas (Colorado) have all been placed on waivers today, reports Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston (Twitter link).

O’Reilly has played in 11 games with the Sabres this season, recording an assist along with a -6 rating while playing just under eight minutes per game.  He also won 48.5% of his faceoffs, slightly above his career average of 46.6%.  He has fared much better at the minor league level with Rochester, scoring 34 points (8-26-34) in 36 games.  The 30 year old has 144 career games of NHL experience with the Predators, Coyotes, Penguins, and Sabres, recording 49 points (16-33-49).  ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun adds via Twitter that Buffalo is looking for an upgrade at the fourth line center position (which O’Reilly had been occupying) via the trade market.

Gazdic has seen action in ten games with the Devils since being recalled in late December.  The enforcer was held off the scoresheet while recording 12 penalty minutes and 14 hits.  He also has played in 13 games with AHL Albany, picking up a pair of helpers along with 19 penalty minutes.  Andrew Gross of Fire and Ice notes (Twitter link) that it’s not a guarantee that he will be sent back down if he clears.  Assuming he does pass through unclaimed, he could remain with the Devils for 30 days or 10 games without having to go through waivers again.  The 27 year old has played in 146 NHL games in his career (mostly with Edmonton), collecting eight points (5-3-8) along with 206 penalty minutes and 214 hits.

As for Gelinas, he has remained at the NHL level all season despite clearing waivers back on December 1st.  He has suited up in 26 games with the Avalanche this year, recording just a single assist while averaging just under 12 minutes per game, not the type of production they were seeking when they dealt a third round pick  to New Jersey for him at the trade deadline last season.  With a cap hit of $1.575MM, he’s likely to clear.  His spot on the roster will likely go to Mark Barberio, who was claimed off waivers from Montreal earlier today.

Still with the waiver wire, Kings defenseman Tom Gilbert passed through unclaimed, James Mirtle of The Athletic reports via Twitter.  The team announced (Twitter link) that he was assigned to Ontario of the OHL.

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