[Bearcat]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...d=nhl:topheads

Sweet... the other day the news was O'Reilly was looking for 1yr/$6.75 million... not only overpaid, but requiring this crap again next year as he would've been an RFA again.

O'Reilly, Avalanche agree to two-year contract
Wednesday, 07.23.2014 / 1:02 PM / News

Center Ryan O'Reilly and the Colorado Avalanche agreed to a two-year contract Wednesday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Darren Dreger of TSN reports the contract is for $12 million, with O'Reilly being paid $5.8 million in 2014-15 and $6.2 million in 2015-16.

The sides had an arbitration hearing scheduled for later Wednesday, but it was a hearing neither side was interested in having. The contract was agreed to as Avalanche executive vice president Joe Sakic, general manager Greg Sherman, O'Reilly, and the player's agent, Pat Morris, waited to enter the hearing chamber.

"We were right outside the door, ready to do this," Sakic told Adrian Dater of the Denver Post.

Sakic said he arrived for the hearing in Toronto on Monday, and began talking with O'Reilly and Morris on Tuesday about reaching a deal before the hearing.

"We knew no matter what there would at least be a one-year deal, but then it became, 'Well, how about two?'" Sakic said. "There was never any animosity between us this whole time. Any of the perceived animosity came from the outside."

The contract will keep O'Reilly with the Avalanche through the 2015-16 season, when he can become an unrestricted free agent. However, Sakic said he hopes a long-term contract can be worked out before that happens.

"When we shook hands I think we were both very happy," Sakic said. "I know the Colorado Avalanche is very happy. He's a very valuable player to us and we want him long-term. That hasn't happened yet, but we'll keep working at it and see what happens.

"Like I said, we value Ryan a lot and we're just real happy to have him under contract."

O'Reilly, 23, had a team-best 28 goals last season and set career-highs in goals and points (64). He also won the Lady Byng Trophy for skillful and gentlemanly play after being assessed two penalty minutes while playing 80 games. He also had two goals and four assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Selected by the Avalanche in the second round (No. 33) of the 2009 NHL Draft, O'Reilly has 73 goals and 191 points in 345 NHL games in five seasons.