Whenever the NHL lockout finally comes to an end, whether it's this year (we can only hope) or next year (God help us), Colorado Avalanche forward Ryan O'Reilly is going to be one of the top restricted free agents without a contract in the NHL.
What he does have right now is a two-year contract to play in the KHL after agreeing to terms with Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Friday.
He's not the first NHL player to sign in Europe during the lockout, but he is the first one to sign a multiyear deal that could keep him over there after the lockout ends. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but according to the team the contract has an interesting twist. If an NHL team (like, say, the Colorado Avalanche) comes to O'Reilly with a better contract offer they will not stand in his way if he choses to return to the NHL.
The team said in a statement, via Russian news site RIA Novosti, that, "It has been agreed by mutual consent that if Ryan is offered a contract on more lucrative terms in the National Hockey League, Metallurg will not interfere in that contract being concluded."
