So don't believe the organization who not only didn't make a certain trade, but also officially stated that they weren't close to making a trade...but believe TSN/Sportsnet whose entire existence is dependent on getting more people to view their content & sensationalizes the most unimportant things? The OP's link was written by a Montreal beat writer for christ sakes lol.
Remember when the expansion draft was for sure going to be the most trade-heavy event ever? Oh yea. Remember all the build up to a Hanifin-Hamilton swap that TSN insiders were covering weeks leading up to it? Oh yea me too. NHL teams don't share actual relevant present information to these guys, because they don't want anyone to know what they're up to.
I am not believing anyone one way or the other, but to take a GM"s word about trades that didn't happen is ridiculous.
Reporter to Botterill on about a trade of Ryan O'Reilly:
"At anytime were you close to making a deal involving Ryan O'Rielly?"
Botterill:
Yea, we were pretty close. We have been trying to move Ryan but in the end we just weren't getting enough back. We would have done for the third overall but Montreal wasn't having it."
What would you expect Botterill to say? Of course he is going to say they weren't close to a trade. Any worthwhile GM would say the same thing. A GM would have to be a freaking idiot to say yes, we were close to making a trade of any specific player, because that player still has to play on that team. Saying we weren't close to a trade is basically the only thing he can say.
If there is a player that is on the block, he is either traded or when the GM is asked about him he will say "it wasn't close."
I would not be surprised at all if O'Reilly was close to being dealt at the draft. Seriously please stop taking GM's at their word. Part of the job description is to lie. There is a lot of poker going on.