Flashback 2009 NHL Draft: Ryan O’Reilly

O’Reilly’s journey to becoming an NHL player began with his career in the Ontario Hockey League. O’Reilly began playing for the Erie Otters in the 2007-2008 season. Despite his young age, he quickly established himself as a standout player, tallying 52 points in his rookie season, including 19 goals. His well-rounded game, maturity, and leadership were exceptional for a player his age, and he showed a defensive prowess rare among young forwards.

His second season and ultimately his last season in the OHL was in 2008-2009, O’Reilly continued to impress, recording 66 points, including 50 assists, in 68 games. His high end hockey sense and playmaking skills were fully on display, as was his ability to excel in key situations. That season firmly established O’Reilly as legit NHL prospect. His ability to read the play, combined with his hardworking nature and excellent hand-eye coordination, made him a player we loved for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

In that 2009 NHL Entry Draft, O’Reilly was selected in the 2nd round, 33rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche, a testament to his skill, potential, and the impression he had made during his time in the OHL. His skating was his weakness and it was the biggest reason he slipped into the 2nd round. His transition to the NHL was immediate though. He skipped the long route of returning to the OHL and playing in the AHL, and he jumped straight into the NHL after his draft season.

During his first season with the Avalanche, he quickly made a name for himself as a defensively responsible forward, a role that’s often hard for young players to fill. This immediate responsibility showcased his mature approach to the game that we loved watching in the OHL, a trait that set him apart from many other prospects.

After successful seasons with the Avalanche, O’Reilly was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015. There, he continued to demonstrate his all-around game and further polished his offensive skills. He became an integral part of the Sabres’ core group, playing a key role in all situations.

However, some would say his true breakout came after he joined the St. Louis Blues in 2018. In his first season with the Blues, he not only led the team in points during the regular season but also played a pivotal role in their historic Stanley Cup run in 2019. His ability to perform under high-stakes playoff pressure was impressive, earning him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player.

Throughout his career, O’Reilly’s impressive skill set has been complemented by a commendable display of sportsmanship. He won the Lady Byng Trophy, an award given to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.

In addition to his NHL success, O’Reilly has made significant contributions to the Canadian National Team. He has represented Canada in the World Championships and was a big contributor to their success.

From his early days in the OHL to his successes in the NHL, Ryan O’Reilly has proven himself to be one of the most consistent, smartest and reliable centers in the game. His work ethic, combined with his unique blend of offensive and defensive skills, has made him a respected player among his peers and a favorite amongst hockey fans.

Our HockeyProspect.com 2009 NHL Draft Ranking for Ryan O’Reilly:  21st Overall

 

2009 NHL Draft Full Results

PickNHL TeamPlayerPosTeam
1NY IslandersJohn TavaresCLondon Knights [OHL]
2Tampa BayVictor HedmanDMODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik [SEL]
3ColoradoMatt DucheneCBrampton Battalion [OHL]
4AtlantaEvander KaneLVancouver Giants [WHL]
5Los AngelesBrayden SchennCBrandon Wheat Kings [WHL]
6PhoenixOliver Ekman-LarssonDLeksands IF [Swe-1]
7TorontoNazem KadriCLondon Knights [OHL]
8DallasScott GlennieCBrandon Wheat Kings [WHL]
9OttawaJared CowenDSpokane Chiefs [WHL]
10EdmontonMagnus PaajarviLTimra IK [SEL]
11NashvilleRyan EllisDWindsor Spitfires [OHL]
12NY IslandersCalvin de HaanDOshawa Generals [OHL]
13BuffaloZack KassianRPeterborough Petes [OHL]
14FloridaDmitri KulikovDDrummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]
15AnaheimPeter HollandCGuelph Storm [OHL]
16MinnesotaNick LeddyDEden Prairie H.S. (Minn.)
17St. LouisDavid RundbladDSkelleftea AIK [SEL]
18MontrealLouis LeblancROmaha Lancers [USHL]
19NY RangersChris KreiderLAndover H.S. (Mass.)
20New JerseyJacob JosefsonCDjurgardens IF Stockholm [SEL]
21ColumbusJohn MooreDChicago Steel [USHL]
22VancouverJordan SchroederLU. of Minnesota [WCHA]
23CalgaryTim ErixonDSkelleftea AIK [SEL]
24WashingtonMarcus JohanssonLFarjestads BK Karlstad [SEL]
25BostonJordan CaronRRimouski Oceanic [QMJHL]
26AnaheimKyle PalmieriCU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
27CarolinaPhilippe ParadisLShawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL]
28ChicagoDylan OlsenDCamrose Kodiaks [AJHL]
29Tampa BayCarter AshtonRLethbridge Hurricanes [WHL]
30PittsburghSimon DespresDSaint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL]
31NY IslandersMikko KoskinenGBlues [SM-liiga]
32DetroitLandon FerraroCRed Deer Rebels [WHL]
33ColoradoRyan O'ReillyCErie Otters [OHL]
34AtlantaCarl KlingbergLVastra Frolunda Jr. [Swe-Jr]
35Los AngelesKyle CliffordLBarrie Colts [OHL]
36PhoenixChris BrownCU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
37AnaheimMat ClarkDBrampton Battalion [OHL]
38DallasAlex ChiassonRDes Moines Buccaneers [USHL]
39OttawaJakob SilfverbergRBrynas Jr. [Swe-Jr]
40EdmontonAnton LanderCTimra IK [SEL]
41NashvilleZach BudishREdina H.S. (Minn.)
42NashvilleCharles-Olivier RousselDShawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL]
43San JoseWilliam WrennDU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
44FloridaDrew ShoreCU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
45AtlantaJeremy MorinLU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
46OttawaRobin LehnerGVastra Frolunda Jr. [Swe-Jr]
47NY RangersEthan WerekCKingston Frontenacs [OHL]
48St. LouisBrett PonichDPortland Winter Hawks [WHL]
49ColoradoStefan ElliottDSaskatoon Blades [WHL]
50TorontoKenny RyanRU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
51CarolinaBrian DumoulinDNew Hampshire Jr. Monarchs
52Tampa BayRichard PanikRTrinec Ocelari HC [Czech]
53VancouverAnton RodinRBrynas Jr. [Swe-Jr]
54New JerseyEric GelinasDLewiston MAINEiacs [QMJHL]
55WashingtonDmitri OrlovDNovokuznetsk Metallurg [KHL]
56ColumbusKevin LynchCU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
57San JoseTaylor DohertyDKingston Frontenacs [OHL]
58TorontoJesse BlackerDWindsor Spitfires [OHL]
59ChicagoBrandon PirriCGeorgetown Raiders [OJHL]
60DetroitTomas TatarLZvolen HKm [Slovak]
61PittsburghPhilip SamuelssonDChicago Steel [USHL]
62NY IslandersAnders NilssonGLulea HF Jr. [Swe-Jr]
63PittsburghBen HanowskiRLittle Falls H.S. (Minn.)
64ColoradoTyson BarrieDKelowna Rockets [WHL]
65MontrealJoonas NattinenCBlues Jrs. (Finland)
66BuffaloBrayden McNabbDKootenay Ice [WHL]
67FloridaJosh BirkholzRFargo Force [USHL]
68TorontoJamie DevaneLPlymouth Whalers [OHL]
69DallasReilly SmithRSt. Michael's Buzzers [OJHL]
70NashvilleTaylor BeckRGuelph Storm [OHL]
71EdmontonTroy HeskethDMinnetonka H.S. (Minn.)
72NashvilleMichael LattaCGuelph Storm [OHL]
73New JerseyAlexander UrbomDDjurgardens IF Stockholm [SEL]
74CalgaryRyan HowseLChilliwack Bruins [WHL]
75DetroitAndrej NestrasilRVictoriaville Tigres [QMJHL]
76AnaheimIgor BobkovGMagnitogorsk Jr. (Russia)
77MinnesotaMatt HackettGPlymouth Whalers [OHL]
78St. LouisSergei AndronovLTolyatti Lada [KHL]
79MontrealMac BennettDHotchkiss School (Conn.)
80NY RangersRyan BourqueLU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
81PhiladelphiaAdam MorrisonGSaskatoon Blades [WHL]
82EdmontonCameron AbneyREverett Silvertips [WHL]
83VancouverKevin ConnautonDWestern Michigan University [CCHA]
84Los AngelesNicolas DeslauriersLRouyn-Noranda Huskies [QMJHL]
85WashingtonCody EakinCSwift Current Broncos [WHL]
86BostonRyan ButtonDPrince Albert Raiders [WHL]
87PhiladelphiaSimon BertilssonDBrynas IF Gavle [SEL]
88CarolinaMattias LindstromLSkelleftea AIK Jr. [Swe-Jr]
89ChicagoDaniel DelisleLTotino Grace H.S. (Minn.)
90DetroitGleason FournierDRimouski Oceanic [QMJHL]
91PhoenixMike LeeGFargo Force [USHL]
92NY IslandersCasey CizikasCMississauga St. Michael's Majors [OHL]
93Tampa BayAlex HutchingsLBarrie Colts [OHL]
94ColumbusDavid SavardDMoncton Wildcats [QMJHL]
95Los AngelesJ.F. BerubeGMontreal Juniors [QMJHL]
96Los AngelesLinden VeyRMedicine Hat Tigers [WHL]
97PhoenixJordan SzwarzCSaginaw Spirit [OHL]
98NashvilleCraig SmithCWaterloo Black Hawks [USHL]
99EdmontonKyle BigosDVernon Vipers [BCHL]
100OttawaChris WidemanDMiami University (Ohio) [CCHA]
101EdmontonToni RajalaLIlves Jrs. (Finland)
102NashvilleMattias EkholmDMora IK [Swe-1]
103MinnesotaKris FoucaultLCalgary Hitmen [WHL]
104BuffaloMarcus FolignoLSudbury Wolves [OHL]
105PhoenixJustin WellerDRed Deer Rebels [WHL]
106AnaheimSami VatanenDJyp Jr. (Finland)
107FloridaGarrett WilsonLOwen Sound Attack [OHL]
108St. LouisTyler ShattockRKamloops Blazers [WHL]
109MontrealAlexander AvtsinRDynamo Moscow-2 (Russia)
110NashvilleNick OliverCRoseau High (Minn.)
111CalgaryHenrik BjorklundLFarjestads BK Karlstad [SEL]
112BostonLane MacDermidLWindsor Spitfires [OHL]
113VancouverJeremy PriceDNepean Raiders [CJHL]
114New JerseySeth HelgesonDSioux City Musketeers [USHL]
115WashingtonPatrick WeyDWaterloo Black Hawks [USHL]
116MinnesotaAlexander FallstromRShattuck St. Mary's (Minn)
117AtlantaEdward PasqualeGSaginaw Spirit [OHL]
119ChicagoByron FroeseCEverett Silvertips [WHL]
120AtlantaBen ChiarotDGuelph Storm [OHL]
121PittsburghNick PetersenRShawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL]
122NY IslandersAnton KlementyevDYaroslavl-2 (Russia)
123PittsburghAlex VelischekDDelbarton H.S. (N.J.)
124ColoradoKieran MillanGBoston University [H-East]
125AtlantaCody SolDSaginaw Spirit [OHL]
126Los AngelesDavid KolomatisDOwen Sound Attack [OHL]
127NY RangersRoman HorakCCeske Budejovice Jrs. [Czech.]
128TorontoEric KnodelDPhiladelphia Jr. Flyers
129DallasTomas VincourREdmonton Oil Kings [WHL]
130OttawaMike HoffmanLDrummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]
131CarolinaMatt KennedyRGuelph Storm [OHL]
132NashvilleGabriel BourqueLBaie-Comeau Drakkar [QMJHL]
133EdmontonOlivier RoyGCape Breton Screaming Eagles [QMJHL]
134BuffaloMark AdamsDMalden Catholic H.S. (Mass.)
135FloridaCorban KnightCOkotoks Oilers [AJHL]
136AnaheimRadoslav IlloCTri-City Storm [USHL]
137ColumbusThomas LarkinDExeter H.S. (N.H.)
138FloridaWade MeganCSouth Kent School (Conn,)
139MontrealGabriel DumontCDrummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]
140NY RangersScott StajcerGOwen Sound Attack [OHL]
141CalgarySpencer BennettLSurrey Eagles [BCHL]
142PhiladelphiaNicola RiopelGMoncton Wildcats [QMJHL]
143VancouverPeter AnderssonDVastra Frolunda Jr. [Swe-Jr]
144New JerseyDerek RodwellLOkotoks Oilers [AJHL]
145WashingtonBrett FlemmingDMississauga St. Michael's Majors [OHL]
146OttawaJeff CostelloLCedar Rapids RoughRiders [USHL]
147San JosePhilip VaroneCLondon Knights [OHL]
148Tampa BayMichael ZadorGOshawa Generals [OHL]
149ChicagoMarcus KrugerCDjurgardens Jr. [Swe-Jr]
150DetroitNick JensenDGreen Bay Gamblers [USHL]
151PittsburghAndy BathgateCBelleville Bulls [OHL]
152NY IslandersAnders LeeLEdina H.S. (Minn.)
153PhiladelphiaDave LabrecqueCShawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL]
154ColoradoBrandon MaxwellGU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
155AtlantaJimmy BubnickCKamloops Blazers [WHL]
156Los AngelesMichael PelechFMississauga St. Michael's Majors [OHL]
157PhoenixEvan BloodoffLKelowna Rockets [WHL]
158TorontoJerry D'AmigoLU.S. National Under-18 Team [Ind]
159DallasCurtis McKenzieLPenticton Vees [BCHL]
160OttawaCorey CowickLOttawa 67's [OHL]
161MinnesotaDarcy KuemperGRed Deer Rebels [WHL]
162Tampa BayJaroslav JanusGErie Otters [OHL]
163MinnesotaJere SallinenLBlues Jrs. (Finland)
164BuffaloConnor KnappGMiami University (Ohio) [CCHA]
165FloridaScott TimminsCWindsor Spitfires [OHL]
166AnaheimScott ValentineDOshawa Generals [OHL]
167ColumbusAnton BlomqvistDMalmo Jr. [Swe-Jr]
168St. LouisDavid ShieldsDErie Otters [OHL]
169MontrealDustin WalshCKingston Voyageurs [OJHL]
170NY RangersDaniel MaggioDSudbury Wolves [OHL]
171CalgaryJoni OrtioGTPS Jrs. (Finland)
172PhiladelphiaEric WellwoodLWindsor Spitfires [OHL]
173VancouverJoe CannataGMerrimack College [H-East]
174New JerseyAshton BernardLShawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL]
175WashingtonGarrett MitchellRRegina Pats [WHL]
176BostonTyler RandellRKitchener Rangers [OHL]
177ChicagoDavid PacanRCumberland Grads [CJHL]
178CarolinaRasmus RissanenDKalpa Jr. (Finland)
179Los AngelesBrandon KozunRCalgary Hitmen [WHL]
180DetroitMitch CallahanRKelowna Rockets [WHL]
181PittsburghViktor EkbomDOskarshamn IK [Swe-1]
182MinnesotaErik HaulaLShattuck St. Mary's (Minn)
183Tampa BayKirill GotovetsDShattuck St. Mary's (Minn)
184ColoradoGus YoungDNobles [Mass. H.S.]
185AtlantaLevko KoperLSpokane Chiefs [WHL]
186Los AngelesJordan NolanCSoo Greyhounds [OHL]
187VancouverSteven AnthonyLSaint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL]
188TorontoBarron SmithDPeterborough Petes [OHL]
189San JoseMarek ViedenskyCPrince George Cougars [WHL]
190OttawaBrad PeltzLAvon Old Farms H.S. (Conn.)
191OttawaMichael SdaoDLincoln Stars [USHL]
192NashvilleCam ReidFWestside Warriors [BCHL]
193MinnesotaAnthony HamburgCDallas Stars AAA (Midget)
194BuffaloMaxime LegaultRShawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL]
195ChicagoPaul PhillipsDCedar Rapids RoughRiders [USHL]
196PhiladelphiaOliver LauridsenDSt. Cloud State [WCHA]
197ColumbusKyle NeuberRMississauga St. Michael's Majors [OHL]
198Los AngelesNic DowdCWenatchee Wild [NAHL]
199MontrealMike CichyCIndiana Ice [USHL]
200NY RangersMikhail PashninDMechel [Russia]
201CalgaryGaelan PattersonDSaskatoon Blades [WHL]
202St. LouisMaxwell TardyCDuluth East H.S. (Minn.)
203AtlantaJordan Samuels-ThomasLWaterloo Black Hawks [USHL]
204New JerseyCurtis GedigDCowichan Valley Capitals [BCHL]
205WashingtonBenjamin CasavantLPrince Edward Island Rocket [QMJHL]
206BostonBen SextonCNepean Raiders [CJHL]
207San JoseDominik BielkeDBerlin Polar Bears [DEL]
208CarolinaTommi KivistoDRed Deer Rebels [WHL]
209ChicagoDavid GilbertCQuebec Remparts [QMJHL]
210DetroitAdam AlmquistDHV71 Jr. [Swe-Jr]
211MontrealPetteri SimilaGKarpat Jrs. (Finland)