So tell me, what difference does the two year deal make then? If he's willing to sign with whatever team he's traded too, what's stopping him from doing that on July 1st, 2015?
I mentioned that already.
Any team trading for him is comfortable with his long term asking price as an RFA, and O'Reilly HAS to sign with them. He can't wait until UFA. He has to sign with them first. In which case, he's not going to renege on his asking price and turn down long term offers that meet what he's looking for, so he can sign his one year QO.
If he's traded to a team with a two year deal he doesn't have to re-sign with them to reach UFA. He'll likely just wait until then so he can field the max offer. Something I'd be HIGHLY concerned with given his past history.
The only thing keeping O'Reilly from signing with the Avs was the hold up on money. That's not going to hold up a team that wants to trade for him. If they trade for him as a pending UFA where he can field enormous offers from 30 different teams, that's a whole different story.
He has a whole new asking price as a pending UFA than he does as an RFA. Before a trade they'll know his asking price as a pending RFA. If they trade for him as a pending UFA he doesn't even have to give his new asking price, he can just say we're going to test the market.
The issue with a one year deal is "will he sign for X amount long term?" Something they already know he will do, and they are comfortable with. Making it not an issue at all.
The issue with a two year deal is "will he turn down offers just to hit free agency?" Something they would be VERY concerned with.