So, here's my take on this:
I think a lot of people that are bad mouthing RoR, should consider that there is a good chance that the Avs might match, especially when you consider the compensation.
Personally, I don't believe this was about the money for the Avs. This is a team that forked over $16M to David Jones because he was about to become a UFA and they wanted him here for the next 4 years. There's no one in their right mind that believes that Jones is better than O'Reilly,
this was about RoR coming out of Entry Level and demanding too much and the Avs refusing to pay, based on their principles. Much like the Sabres did with Vanek, the Avs could very well match it and just say, WE DIDN'T GIVE HIM THAT CONTRACT, someone else did, we just don't want to lose the asset, we never did.
My only real question is, has the relationship gotten so bad that the Avs don't even want him back, even if the compensation is lousy? I don't know the answer to that.
I'm kind of 50/50 on it because:
A)I think RoR is a hell of a player and I think the Avs are better off keeping him than letting him go for anything less than a home run. Yeah it's a lot of money and he'll be getting it sooner than they anticipated but WE didn't give it to him, the Flames did and we just stuck to our guns.
B) Another part of me is thinking, there is probably no worse place for this guy to end up, than with this horribly run team that keeps going for it year after year only to suck and their best players well past their prime. Regardless of what # we would draft at, I think we'd get an amazing player and that would stick it to them even worst.
It WOULD be hilarious though if the Avs finished 28th overall and the Flames just miss the playoffs by ONE POINT and finish 17th overall and we win the lottery with THEIR PICK!!