Nation Sites
The Nation Network
FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Throwback Thursday: This week in 2013, Calgary Flames sign Ryan O’Reilly to offer sheet

By Zach Laing
Mar 4, 2021, 19:37 ESTUpdated: Mar 4, 2021, 19:55 EST
Welcome back to another edition of Throwback Thursday!
This week in 2013, the Calgary Flames signed Ryan O’Reilly to a two-year, $10-million offer sheet. While Colorado matched the offer sheet later in the day, if they hadn’t O’Reilly would’ve needed to clear waivers.
That’s all because O’Reilly, while unsigned, spent part of the lockout playing in the KHL where he appeared in two games, both after the NHL was back underway.
The Flames, and the NHL, missed this detail and it wasn’t highlighted until days later. Then it was discovered if the Avalanche chose to not match the offer sheet, the Flames would’ve sacrificed a first and third round draft picks, all the while O’Reilly would’ve surely been picked up off the waiver wire.
Losing the draft capital would’ve been horrible, doubly so considering the Flames used their sixth overall pick that year to draft Sean Monahan.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
Recent articles from Zach Laing
- Calgary Flames prospect Topi Rönni sentenced for rape charges, has contract with Finnish team terminated, Flames renounce rights
- Former Flames forward Adam Ruzicka set to have contract terminated with Coyotes after video surfaces of him near apparent drugs
- ‘We had no knowledge of pending charges’: Calgary Flames issue statement after Dillon Dube charged with sexual assault
Breaking News
- What’s Going On In the Pacific Division: Five teams in the division occupy a playoff spot
- Throwback Thursday: Looking at the Calle Järnkrok trade with the Kraken
- Flames injury news: Jake Bean to undergo surgery, out ‘indefinitely’
- Flames roster news: Dryden Hunt placed on waivers in advance of holiday roster freeze, Justin Kirkland called up
- World Juniors: Flames prospects Zayne Parekh and Cole Reschny survive Team Canada roster cuts
