The Colorado Avalanche are being linked with a veteran third-line center ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. That player is Ryan O’Reilly, the Nashville Predators’ savvy two-way pivot who turns 35 in February. The rumor mill is humming, the talk is loud, and the fit sounds neat on paper. But here’s the twist: O’Reilly doesn’t want to go.

As of mid-January 2026, multiple trade-board notes and reports have spotlighted O’Reilly as a name to watch. One assessment put it plainly: “Ryan O’Reilly has been at the center of trade discussions for a while, including a reunion with the team that drafted him, the Colorado Avalanche.” Yet those close to the situation say the player’s preference is clear. He would rather help Nashville push up the standings than pack for a contender. In fact, one line from recent reporting summed it up: “He wants to turn things around and be part of the solution in Nashville. So I don’t understand why this is a topic of conversation.”

The contract context matters. O’Reilly is in Year 3 of a four-year, $18 million deal he signed on July 1, 2023. His cap hit is $4.5 million, and the deal runs through 2026–27. He’s not a rental. That alone shapes the price and the pool of teams who can actually make this work under the cap.

Why the Avalanche Are Linked to a Ryan O’Reilly Trade

Colorado drafted O’Reilly and watched him grow from 2009 to 2014. In that run, he logged 427 games with 90 goals and 156 assists. He has 98 career power-play goals and is known for clean, smart details: winning draws, killing penalties, and never blinking in big moments. One trade-board profile this month put it like this: “O’Reilly is a smart two-way center who can win faceoffs, play on the PK and PP, and has the ability to easily work into the top six when needed.” That checks every box teams crave in the spring.

The idea in Denver is simple: slot him as a true 3C for a deep playoff push. He would steady the bottom six, anchor a key defensive line, and step up the lineup when needed. On the ice and in the room, he’s a culture add.

“If the Avs land O’Reilly for 3C, that’s the finishing touch — but only if the price isn’t wild.”

Fit, Special Teams, and the Cap Math in Colorado

Even good fits can be tricky. Colorado’s roster is strong today, and that includes special teams. There’s a fair question about power-play usage for O’Reilly in Denver. He can help there, no doubt, but how much would he actually touch the puck on a loaded first unit? If he ends up on PP2, the impact is still solid, but that lowers how much a team should pay in assets.

Then there’s the cap. At a $4.5 million AAV with term, money must match. Reports have floated that a move of this size could require the Avalanche to send out a comparable contract to make the numbers work, the kind that lives in the Ross Colton or Josh Manson range. Add in picks or a prospect, and it becomes a serious package. That’s a lot for a 3C, even a great one.

“Great player, wrong price. Don’t spend top assets on another middle-six center.”

Nashville’s Side: O’Reilly Wants to Stay, and the Predators Are Rising

The Predators have been moving up the standings. That alone cools trade talk. If Nashville believes it can make the playoffs, the logic flips from selling to strengthening. O’Reilly’s voice matters here. He has made it known he wants to be part of the fix in Tennessee, not a name on a deadline board.

One January update captured the tone from the player’s side: “He wants to turn things around and be part of the solution in Nashville. So I don’t understand why this is a topic of conversation.” If the Preds keep collecting points, the market’s answer may simply be: no trade.

“Let the veteran lead the room. Nashville needs stability, not a shuffle.”

A History Lesson: The Last Time O’Reilly Moved

There is history here. In 2015, Colorado traded O’Reilly to Buffalo in a major deal that brought back Nikita Zadorov, J.T. Compher, Mikhail Grigorenko, and a second-round pick. That move was born from tough negotiations after O’Reilly sought a big raise. It’s a reminder that prices can soar around proven centers, and teams rarely get bargains when bidding starts.

Fast forward to 2026: the Avalanche know exactly what O’Reilly brings. They also know what it costs to swing for a top-two-way pivot.

So, Should the Avalanche Push Anyway?

It’s tempting. O’Reilly checks boxes that win in May and June. He wins faceoffs. He kills penalties. He protects the puck. He can bump up to the top six on a tough road night. He’s a steady voice on the bench when things wobble.

But there are real questions. Is 3C where Colorado should spend its best assets and scarce cap space? If the power-play role is small and the price is heavy, is that the best use of bullets when the market could offer a cheaper bottom-six fix? Those are the choices front offices live with long after deadline day fades.

What to Watch Before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

• Nashville’s form: If the Preds keep winning, the odds of a trade fall.
• Colorado’s needs: Any injuries or slumps could change the calculus.
• Market for 3Cs: If other centers move first, prices can jump or drop.
• Salary retention: If Nashville retains money, the package gets larger.
• Term factor: With O’Reilly signed through 2026–27, this isn’t a rental puzzle.

Bottom Line

As of mid-January 2026, the Ryan O’Reilly trade talk is loud but not close. The Avalanche make sense as a link because of history and need. The Predators make sense to keep him because of form and leadership. And O’Reilly himself has made it clear: he wants to stay and help Nashville push.

Teams love proven centers in the spring. But the math, the fit, and the player’s voice all point to the same thing right now: expect the rumors to keep swirling, and expect the Predators to hold firm unless the market turns the price into something they can’t refuse.