TORONTO -- After Tuesday's morning skate in Toronto, I sat down with Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O'Reilly for a chat. The 25-year-old star from Seaforth, Ontario, explained what he thinks the Sabres need to do to turn their season around, what it was like to win a World Cup of Hockey championship alongside his idol and -- in related news -- why his beard is longer and lusher than ever.
ESPN.com: About that beard of yours ... I know you spent a couple of weeks with the San Jose Sharks' bearded ones, Joe Thornton an Brent Burns, as part of Team Canada during the World Cup of Hockey. Did they rub off on you?
Ryan O'Reilly (smiling): I don't think I'll let it get that much out of control and that big. What I have now is a little long. I usually like it a little more trimmed down. I'm not going to their level any time soon. Theirs is next-level, for sure.
ESPN.com: Speaking of the World Cup, it was your first best-on-best tournament experience. Looking back on it, did that provide a boost for you?
O'Reilly: Absolutely. And it's funny with how quick it ended. After a couple of days off, you're back with your [NHL] team. That first month, it didn't sink in really that we won a World Cup. But it was awesome. I made the team by injury [he replaced an injured Tyler Seguin]. You never want to see guys go down like that, but to come in and contribute in some sort of way was huge. I really wanted to make that team. It was a confidence boost and a way to say, 'Hey, maybe I am an elite player in this league.'
ESPN.com: Was there a player on Team Canada whom you didn't know well before the tournament but got to know?
O'Reilly: Well, I grew up watching Jumbo Joe. He's one of my favorite players [because of] his playmaking and how he dishes it. And then, after a phone call [from Team Canada], the next day I'm on a line with him and [former Colorado Avalanche teammate] Matt Duchene. It was funny playing with him again.
It was just funny how it came together -- playing with a guy like Thornton and getting to know him, seeing how funny he is, and just talking to him off the ice. And on the ice -- watching him, the way he communicates, what he does and how effective he is. All the little details and how he positions himself. It was really cool to see him up close.
ESPN.com: What has it been like since then to interact with those guys when you're competing against them? Do you exchange a little wink during warm-up or something like that?
O'Reilly: Yeah, it's like, 'Hey, how are you doing?' It's funny, because it's like you're playing against Chicago and you see [Jonathan] Toews again. It's like, 'Hey Jonny, how are you?' Next thing you know, you're taking like 10 faceoffs against him and trying to beat him.
ESPN.com: You mentioned your old teammate in Colorado, Matt Duchene, earlier. I'm sure you've noticed there's a bit going on there these days. It looks like the Avalanche are headed for a rebuild. You were there during another rebuild. Is it surprising to you to see what's happening there?
O'Reilly: Yeah, it was unexpected. In the summer, when [coach] Patty Roy left, that was interesting. It's crazy, looking at the standings to see how far behind they are. It's unexpected for me. When I talk to guys on their team, I don't want to ask them what's going on. They've got enough going on already. But it's definitely surprising.
ESPN.com: You probably thought your current team would be a bit farther ahead in the standings than it is. What's your take on the Sabres' season so far?
O'Reilly: Yeah, we're definitely nowhere close to where we want to be. I think consistency has been a big thing for us. We win a couple of games and we feel good, we feel we're back on track. Going to the next game, we kind of lose our jump.
We're having trouble reinventing ourselves every day. It's a tough thing to do in this league and it's obviously not going to happen every time, but we've had too many ups and downs. And I have to say, it is on myself a bit, as a guy who's supposed to lead the team. We have to find a way to get guys going right away, to have more complete games. Scoring goals has been an issue at times. That's on a select few of us. If we're scoring, that can change the whole momentum of a game, and we've struggled at times.
ESPN.com: We have this Hollywood idea of what it's like in a dressing room during tough times, that players get up and make big speeches. But in today's game, and with the millennial generation -- I know I sound old when I say that -- it just seems like everyone is on their phones these days and nobody talks to each other. What's it like to talk to teammates when things aren't going well?
O'Reilly: Yeah, it is different. The season is long. There are so many different things that come into play. ... So many different times things have to be said, and sometimes nothing needs to be said, something just needs to be done. It's an example. There are so many different ways and moments that you have to find the right way to get something across.
ESPN.com: Your brother, Cal O'Reilly, is back up with the big club. What's that like to share that time together again at the NHL level?
O'Reilly: It's so cool -- especially, I think, for our parents. When he first got called up last season, my mom was just so excited to see both us playing. It's awesome to share with him because I wouldn't be here without him.
We were actually talking about it this morning because he used to let me go play with his friends. They were four-and-a-half years older. I would tag along and play with older guys. That's how I learned the game, against older, stronger guys. I had to play smarter.
So it's cool to share this now together. Last season we both got on a goal together, first time in Sabres history two brothers did that. So that's special. We definitely enjoy it.