Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill had clearly indicated that he would only trade center Ryan O’Reilly for a king’s ransom and no less. The Montreal Canadiens and the St Louis Blues were rumored to be sniffing around but balked at the cost of what it would take, and likely the $7.5million bonus that he is due today.
So with just a couple of hours to go before midnight, the Blues finally blinked and gave in to GMBot’s demands, and what a haul he brought in considering the circumstances.
Also, the Blues pay his bonus.