Penguins: Life of center Cal O'Reilly takes big turn
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The Penguins claimed Cal O'Reilly, formerly of the Phoenix Coyotes, on re-entry waivers Wednesday.
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Circumstances dictated that it was time to make a move.
The general manager had watched his team, studied his depth chart, and concluded he had no choice but to bring in a center. Especially because he had no way of knowing when the gifted young player considered a major piece of the franchise's foundation would make it into the lineup.
So, he went out and got Cal O'Reilly -- about three months before the Penguins did the same thing.
The Penguins claimed O'Reilly on re-entry waivers Wednesday from Phoenix, which had acquired him from Nashville in late October. The Coyotes surrendered a fourth-round draft choice for him, and general manager Don Maloney wasn't complaining about the price.
In a news release announcing the deal, he called O'Reilly "a young, highly skilled player who will help us at the center position."
Which sounds a lot like what Penguins officials have been saying since O'Reilly joined the organization.
They surely hope his impact is greater than the one he had with the Coyotes; O'Reilly had two goals and three assists in 22 appearances with Phoenix, and spent five games with its American Hockey League affiliate in Portland after passing through conventional waivers unclaimed.
"Obviously, I wanted to go there and contribute and help, and it didn't work out," O'Reilly said. "It's up to me to go perform. I can't make excuses. ... They didn't think it was a good fit, so they wanted to get me out of there, I guess."
The Coyotes had traded for him because they were unable to reach a contract agreement with Kyle Turris, who eventually was traded to Ottawa. The Penguins brought in O'Reilly because of the hole created by the absence of Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal.
"With our situation at center ice, with a couple of guys out, [we will] give him an opportunity and see how he does," general manager Ray Shero said.
The investment in O'Reilly, who will be a restricted free agent after this season, is appreciably smaller than the one Phoenix made. They are responsible only for a prorated portion of 50 percent of his $1,050,000 salary, a sum Shero placed at about $190,000.
First Published February 3, 2012 12:00 am
