When things are going well for an NHL team, the last thing going through the minds of an NHL GM’s mind is to tinker with a winning formula, but when an opportunity presents itself to acquire a difference making player, that rule has to take a back seat to improving their club for the future,

The Colorado Avalanche impasse with center Ryan O’Reilly has reached the point where they are open to trading the 22 year old restricted free agent, , who has three NHL seasons under his belt and enjoyed his most successful offensive year in 2011-12, with 18 goals and 37 assists in 81 games.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported earlier in the week that Colorado GM Greg Sherman would be willing to trade the young center, but only if they get an offer that provides immediate and long term help in the form of a roster player and top prospect.

Reports out of Denver indicate that a numerous teams have expressed interest in O’Reilly, who played a dozen games with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk during the NHL lockout and according to the extremely well connected Josh Rimer(@JoshRimerHockey on Twitter), the Maple Leafs are included in that group.

Toronto would appear to have the right components for a deal that would suit the Av’s needs, as the Leafs have nine NHL caliber defensemen, as Carl Gunnarsson and Jake Gardiner are close to being ready to step back into the lineup.

Colorado’s defensive corps has Eric Johnson as their number one, but the former first overall pick suffered a head injury against Phoenix earlier in the week and is out indefinitely. The rest is an unspectacular group consisting of Matt Hunwick, Ryan Wilson and journeymen like Shane O’Brien,Jan Hejda, Ryan O’Byrne and Greg Zanon.

O’Reilly has compared to former Leaf Michael Peca, for his work ethic, defensive abilities and improvement as a playmaker.

With the unrestricted free agent class relatively thin next July, it might be a prudent and preemptive move for Nonis to acquire O’Reilly, rather than hold out hope that Ryan Getzlaf makes it to the open market in the summer. It would also allow the Leafs GM to shop pending UFA Tyler Bozak before the April 3rd trade deadline.

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The only changes being made to the Leafs lineup for their match against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh are those necessitated by the absence of winger Matt Frattin and goalie James Reimer.

Goaltender Jussi Rynnas will back up Ben Scrivens, who makes his fifth start of the season and Jay McClement replaces Frattin on the third line with Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur. David Steckel will take over the fourth line centering duties between pugilists Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr.

Backup goalie Dan Ellis, who has a sparking 1.00 GAA and .930 in four games this season will start for Carolina.

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