The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari in a three-team trade with the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild.
St. Louis will receive forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette, Toronto’s first round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Ottawa’s third round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft and Toronto’s second round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft while Minnesota receives Toronto’s fourth round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.
St. Louis will retain 50% and Minnesota will retain 25% of O’Reilly’s salary as part of the trade.
O’Reilly, 32, has collected 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 40 games with the Blues this season. In 978 career regular season NHL games with the Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche, the Clinton, Ontario native has recorded 691 points (252 goals, 439 assists) while adding 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) in 64 career Stanley Cup playoff games. In 2019, O’Reilly was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after leading the Blues to a Stanley Cup championship.
O’Reilly has been nominated for the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward twice, capturing the award with St. Louis in 2018-19. He was also awarded the Lady Byng Trophy with Colorado in 2013-14 and has participated in the NHL All-Star game on three occasions (2016, 2019, 2020).
Internationally, O’Reilly has represented Canada several times, including gold medal-winning efforts at the IIHF World Championships in 2015 and 2016 as well as the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Acciari, 31, joins the Maple Leafs after registering 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 54 games with St. Louis this year. Over the course of his eight-year NHL career with the Blues, Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins, the Johnston, Rhode Island native has collected 95 points (55 goals, 40 assists) in 361 regular season games and seven points in 54 playoff contests.
Acciari signed with the Bruins as a free agent prior to the 2015-16 season.
Reaction from around the NHL
We have acquired Ryan O’Reilly & Noel Acciari in a three-team trade with St. Louis & Minnesota.
STL receives Mikhail Abramov & Adam Gaudette, TOR's 1st round pick in '23, OTT's 3rd round pick in '23 & TOR's 2nd round pick in '24. MIN receives TOR's 4th round pick in '25. pic.twitter.com/QAOUZvUZfH— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 18, 2023
St. Louis will retain 50% and Minnesota will retain 25% of O’Reilly’s salary as part of the trade.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 18, 2023
We also receive Josh Pillar from the Minnesota Wild as part of the transaction
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 18, 2023
Noel Acciari was better than advertised. Injuries to team gave him an opportunity to play up in the lineup. Craig Berube called him one of the hardest working players he’s ever coached. Resurrected his career with the #stlblues. #LeafsForever
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 18, 2023
Ryan O’Reilly was on the ice with a 5 year-old make-a-wish recipient well after practice today. Literally was giving back to kids until his final day with #stlblues.
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 18, 2023
Leafs add prospect Josh Pillar in the deal from Minnesota. His rights expire in the spring. Currently plays on the same team as 2022 7th round pick Brandon Lisowsky in Saskatoon.
Not a particularly notable prospect but someone they likely sign to an AHL deal.
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) February 18, 2023
As part of this deal, TOR also received Josh Pillar from WHL Saskatoon. Back from injury tonight for the Blades. Big winger.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 18, 2023
For the third consecutive season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired a captain of an existing team before the trade deadline.
2021 Nick Foligno
2022 Mark Giordano
2023 Ryan O’Reilly.#Leadership— David Alter (@dalter) February 18, 2023
Kyle Dubas just took the home run swing.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 18, 2023
Ticks all the boxes the Leafs we’re looking for. Legitimately makes them a deep forward group and gives them more center options. Abramov was a declining prospect in the system. That’s a lot of draft pick capital but hard not to really like this deal for the Leafs https://t.co/7zaL5a1l0F
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) February 18, 2023
This trade seemed to go against just about everything #Leafs GM Kyle Dubas spoke about recently.
O’Reilly and Acciari are rentals.
And Toronto gave up 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks to do it.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 18, 2023
Blues retain 50% of ROR contract, Wild retain 25%.
Leafs get O’Reilly at $1.875M cap hit https://t.co/MLfVHGR4mW
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) February 18, 2023
#mnwild also received a 4th round pick to facilitate Ryan O’Reilly’s money as a third-party broker.
It’s just the seventh deal in #NHL history to use a third-party to move money.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 18, 2023
Character meter in #LeafsForever dressing room just went up a few notches.
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 18, 2023
As I understand it, Acciari/O’Reilly are scheduled to arrive for tomorrow’s game vs MON
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 18, 2023
WOW, @MapleLeafs are out here swinging for the fences!
Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari have been traded to the Leafs for 2023 1st and 3rd round picks and 2024 2nd round pick@NHLNetwork— KeithIrizarry (@keithirizarry) February 18, 2023
You can’t measure all the things O’Reilly brings to a team. But this picture says all you need to know about who the #LeafsForever acquired.
-hardest worker
-ultimate competitor & leader
-hates losing
-heart & soul guy
-playoff guy! pic.twitter.com/Gy0Fx0kIPU— Carlo Colaiacovo (@CarloColaiacovo) February 18, 2023
Hey @MapleLeafs fans #MassiveWin https://t.co/7WONm0MNVV
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) February 18, 2023