Who is Yordenis Ugas, and why is he fighting Manny Pacquiao?
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Mike CoppingerESPN
YORDENIS UGAS WAS silent. He was happy, soaking in the moment. The 35-year-old had just received an unexpected call, offering him an opportunity he’d long dreamed of.
The answer about whether or not he’d take a fight against boxing’s only eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, was never in doubt. Of course he said yes.
And when Ugas steps into the ring against Pacquiao on Saturday in Las Vegas, he’ll be defending his WBA “super” welterweight title against a 42-year-old living legend having only 11 days’ notice.
Both men were training for drastically different fights on the same card: Pacquiao against IBF and WBC world title holder Errol Spence Jr.; Ugas against Fabian Maidana. Both Spence and Maidana suffered eye injuries that knocked them out of those fights. Suddenly, Pacquiao and Ugas were set to headline a PBC on Fox pay-per-view at T-Mobile Arena.
“I was surprised,” says Ugas, ESPN’s No. 6 boxer at 147 pounds. “I had emotion running through [me], but I also knew I was prepared. This was meant for a reason.”
If Ugas seems unfazed, it’s because of everything he’s been through over the past decade in his professional career, and everything that led up to this point. He’s an Olympic medalist for his native Cuba, who defected to the United States to pursue his professional dreams. He spent two years (from 2014 to 2016), retired from the sport. And before he could even launch his professional career, Ugas struggled for years to get his feet underneath him.
The stars have finally aligned for Ugas. It’s been a long time coming.
TWO YEARS AFTER winning bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Ugas made the only choice available if he wanted to pursue his dream of winning a world title: He defected from Cuba.
“Imagine being in the open sea for two days, you’re in a small little boat so you’re all over the place with the waves,” Ugas recalled. “I thought at every moment I was going to die. It’s not something I would wish on anyone; it’s very dangerous.”
That small raft brought him from Cuba to Mexico. From there, he made his way to Miami, where many Cuban defectors have settled over the past few decades.
Living in the United States with a minimal support system and little money was difficult, and lonely. During those seemingly never-ending days, Ugas would head over to McDonald’s and order a dollar-menu apple pie. Not just one — sometimes as many as seven. It was comfort food, and the only meal he could afford that would offer any solace.
But Ugas’ pro career started well enough inside the ring. He recorded five wins in 2010, and that November, two key things happened: Ugas got his first up-close look at Pacquiao, when Pacquiao picked apart Antonio Margarito in a 154-pound title fight and became boxing’s first eight-division world champion. And that night, as Ugas was ringside at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, he met Bob Arum and laid the groundwork for his first promotional contract.
“Ugas was wearing a white suit, he had that Don Johnson look, no shirt on, and Arum f—ing falls in love with the look,” Top Rank Boxing matchmaker Brad Goodman recalled. “Arum thought he was the real deal.”
TOP RANK SIGNED Ugas and placed him on a February 2011 card against Carlos Musquez. Ugas won his first six fights with the promotion, running his record to 11-0 with five knockouts.
Then they stepped up the competition for Ugas with a fight against Johnny Garcia, on Showtime’s prospect-oriented series, ShoBox: The New Generation. It was a disaster for Ugas, who suffered his first professional loss via split decision. And that wasn’t all.
“His first showing to really showcase his skills, and he lost a split decision,” Goodman says. “He really didn’t go out there and shine like he was supposed to. We were just real down [on him] and we just released him.”
The release, Ugas says, was a psychological blow that took him years to recover from. He won four fights after parting ways with Top Rank, but then lost back-to-back fights against Emanuel Robles and Amir Imam in 2014. Following the unanimous-decision setback to Imam that May, Ugas suddenly called it quits.
His career hadn’t gone the way he planned; far from it, in fact. At 15-3, and just four years into his pro career, Ugas couldn’t handle losing. He had been one of the best amateurs in Cuban history, winning several national championships and a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Mianyang, China.
“Dark days back then, it was very depressing,” Ugas said, via translation from his manager, Luis DeCubas. “I’ve been competing in boxing over 20 years; never not been competing; never thought I didn’t have a future. Sitting in a room with no future, no money, no life: it’s pretty depressing. You think the worst things.
“I was retired, 100 percent out of boxing; wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I was confused. I didn’t know what I was going to do in life, period. … Bad time in my career; bad time in life.”
“He’s not a drinker, but [he was] hanging out until late, not taking things seriously, not running,” said DeCubas.
Ugas was living in New Jersey at that point, and to get by, he worked odd jobs to pay the bills — the first jobs he ever had outside of boxing. Hard labor.
Then Ugas received the call that “100 percent changed my life.” On the other line, along with DeCubas, was Aroldis Chapman, the future MLB All-Star closer. Chapman, a fellow Cuban defector and one of Ugas’ closest friends since they arrived in Miami, had signed a lucrative contract with the Cincinnati Reds in January 2010, and he was ready to offer Ugas a much-needed lifeline and a doorway back into boxing.
The message from Chapman: “I’ll give you the money to move to Vegas, but you better take this as your last opportunity.”
WHILE HE WAS living in New Jersey during that two-year hiatus, Ugas had plenty of time to think. He couldn’t wrap his head around it all. How had he reached this point?
He surveyed the boxing landscape and saw who was thriving. Terence Crawford? Ugas beat him when they met in the Pan American Games qualifier in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, in 2007. Sadam Ali. Darleys Perez. Jose Pedraza. Along with Crawford, all titleholders at that time. And all fighters Ugas had beaten as an amateur.
“These guys are champions; I’m not a champion?” Ugas recalls thinking. “I gotta be a champion.”
Determined to make the most of the opportunity Chapman placed at his feet, Ugas packed up what little he owned and moved to Las Vegas for a fresh start — linking up with trainer Ismael Salas, another Cuban, and reuniting with DeCubas. He changed his lifestyle and dedicated himself completely to his craft.
He also moved up in weight, from 140 pounds to 147, and witnessed the birth of his son, Yordenis Jr. — the two biggest factors in his dramatic turnaround, Ugas says.
During the second act of his career with DeCubas, in which he eventually signed with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions promotion, Ugas impressed as a reliable fill-in. Less than a year into his return, Ugas scored a second-round stoppage vs. Nelson Lara on two days’ notice in 2017. Later that year, he agreed to take on an even better opponent on one week’s notice, defeating Thomas Dulorme by decision.
“I could tell when he came out [to Las Vegas,] he wasn’t playing around,” DeCubas said.
“He just made a complete turnaround. He has all the ability in the world,” said Goodman, who considers Ugas’ inside game his best attribute. “… He’s very calm. He carries a lot of confidence. Nothing rattles him.”
By 2019, Ugas had put together eight consecutive victories, and lined up opposite Shawn Porter for a WBC welterweight title shot — the kind of opportunity he had long dreamed of. Despite being as much as a +400 underdog, Ugas went punch for punch with Porter, and in the minds of many in the boxing world watching that night, did enough to win. But the cards ultimately went against him, albeit narrowly in a split decision.
Besides the controversial defeat to Porter, Ugas’ résumé includes decision wins over solid fighters like Jamal James, Abel Ramos and Omar Figueroa Jr., as well as TKOs vs. Bryant Perrella and Ray Robinson.
None of those boxers, of course, come close to the legendary Pacquiao.
1:03
Manny Pacquiao shares his thoughts on his new opponent Yordenis Ugas, following Errol Spence Jr.’s withdrawal due to injury.
SEVEN YEARS ON from hitting the pause button in his career, Ugas, a fighter once labeled a bust, is on the doorstep of a life-changing opportunity.
“I never expected to fight Manny Pacquiao, especially at his age and how much more ahead [of me] he was,” Ugas said. “He’s such a great fighter and he showed [it] with what he did against Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner [in his two most recent fights]. What a great fighter he still is, even at 42 years old.
“He’s one of the greatest fighters of all time, there’s no question about it. It’s going to be a pleasure and honor to share the ring with a legend. But once the bell rings, all that goes out the window and it’s a fight. It’s not, ‘I’m fighting Manny Pacquiao.’ I’m fighting for my life.”
“He has to prepare for his future outside of boxing; these are the fights that do that,” DeCubas says. “And a win over Pacquiao sets him up for life.”
Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) enters the fight against Pacquiao as the WBA champion, a position he was elevated to back in January. The old champ? Pacquiao, who won the title from Thurman in July 2019 but hasn’t fought since. Due to the long layoff, the WBA appointed him champion in recess. Pacquiao petitioned the WBA to be reinstated ahead of the Spence fight, but in a surprise decision, the WBA ruled last month to maintain Ugas as champion.
“Ugas is a champion because they gave him my belt,” Pacquiao said last week. “Now, we have to settle it inside of the ring. I cannot take him lightly because he’s the kind of fighter who will take advantage of that.”
Ugas is in a familiar position, both as a last-minute replacement and as a +280 betting underdog as of Wednesday morning at Caesars Sportsbook.
Given what he has fought through — defecting from Cuba, fighting back from a two-year hiatus and the disappointment of not getting the win over Porter, among many other challenges along the way — doubting Ugas’ chances Saturday is a risky position to take.
“If he’s overlooking me, he’s going to have a problem,” Ugas said. “I’m in the prime of my career. I’m a world champion; I’m fighting at the highest level I ever fought. You put the championship pedigree with the Olympic pedigree — I can’t wait for the fight.”
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Eli Lederman
With just a few weeks to go before the early signing period, the 2026 class is mostly wrapped up. Only eight of the prospects ranked inside the ESPN 300 remain uncommitted, including just one — defensive end Jordan Carter — among ESPN’s top 100 recruits.
However, there’s still plenty of activity expected over the homestretch of the 2026 cycle. As committed prospects hit the road for November visits across the country and top programs scour the flip market for late-cycle additions, recruiting drama this time of year is expected. Adding to the intrigue this fall is early activity on the coaching carousel that left job openings at major programs, including Auburn, Florida, LSU and Penn State, sparking flip interest from other top schools and sending committed recruits to reconsider their options before December.
As the business end of the 2026 cycle arrives, ESPN spoke to sources across the industry about 10 prospects who could be on the move in the 23 days between now and the early signing period.
Hometown: Erwinsville, Louisiana
ESPN 300 rank: No. 1
Position rank: No. 1
Committed to: LSU
Recruiting intel: Brown became the highest-ranked pledge of the Brian Kelly era at LSU when he committed to the Tigers over Miami and Texas A&M in July. Five months later, the nation’s top-ranked recruit remains the cornerstone of the program’s incoming class as the school searches for its next coach in the wake of Kelly’s firing.
Brown, who was recruited as a legitimate two-way offensive/defensive line prospect, recorded 91 tackles and eight sacks across his first three varsity seasons at Louisiana’s University Laboratory School, which is located on the LSU campus, just one mile east of Tiger Stadium.
The latest: Brown has emphasized the value of playing at LSU as a Louisiana native and the chance to remain close to home throughout his recruitment. More than two weeks after Kelly’s dismissal, ESPN sources continue to expect Brown to sign with the Tigers during the early signing period, regardless of where the program’s coaching search stands at that point.
Brown’s continued commitment is critical for LSU, not only because he would be the program’s first No. 1-ranked signee since Leonard Fournette in 2014 but because the 6-foot-5, 285-pound defender is seen as the linchpin of the Tigers’ incoming class, according to sources within the program. If Brown sticks with LSU, those sources expect the majority of the 2026 class to do the same.
Still, Brown has been the subject of renewed interest from Miami and Texas A&M in recent weeks. Between those two, sources believe Texas A&M — a narrow runner-up for Brown’s pledge in June — presents the biggest threat to LSU. Brown is not slated to take any visits this month, but his recruitment will be one to watch.
Hometown: Flowood, Mississippi
ESPN 300 rank: No. 39
Position rank: No. 3
Committed to: Auburn
Recruiting intel: Auburn beat Florida, Ohio State and Texas A&M to Womack’s commitment in August, and Mississippi’s 2024 Gatorade Football Player of the Year remains the Tigers’ top-ranked 2026 pledge.
ESPN sources viewed Womack’s pledge as tied heavily to the future of Auburn coach Hugh Freeze before the program fired the third-year coach Nov. 2. After Freeze’s exit, Womack is considering all of his options, with major programs interested.
The latest: Texas A&M is working on several high-profile flip targets in the final stages of the cycle, including Womack, Brown, Anthony Jones (Oregon) and Kevin Ford (Florida). Among that group, Womack might be the most attainable for coach Mike Elko and the Aggies.
Texas A&M finished second in Womack’s recruitment over the summer, and the Aggies are expected to have him back on campus this weekend for the program’s visit from South Carolina.
In-state programs Mississippi State and Ole Miss are two others in pursuit of Womack; his visit for the Bulldogs’ Week 11 loss to Georgia marked a significant development for Mississippi State. Summer finalists Florida and Ohio State can’t be counted out either.
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ESPN 300 rank: No. 78
Position rank: No. 13
Committed to: Penn State
Recruiting intel: College talent evaluators view the longtime Penn State commit as a potential multiyear starter at the next level. It’s a big part of why Ohio State and West Virginia, among a group of other major programs seeking to land an impact, late-cycle addition on the offensive line, have swarmed Brown since the Nittany Lions fired coach James Franklin last month.
“The programs that are coming in right now are teams that need a right tackle,” Brown’s father, Tim, told ESPN. “It’s very specific — it’s not the recruiting we experienced before.”
An agile, big-framed blocker capable of playing across the offensive line, Brown marked a seismic in-state win for Franklin’s staff when he committed to Penn State in July 2024. Nearly a year and a half later, his future increasingly appears to lie somewhere other than Happy Valley.
The latest: Brown closed October with a midweek visit to West Virginia before spending Week 10 at Ohio State during the Buckeyes’ 38-14 win over Penn State on Nov. 1.
Brown’s father played at West Virginia in the early 2000s under coach Rich Rodriguez, and beyond family ties, the program has impressed Brown with its long-term vision for Rodriguez’s second stint leading the Mountaineers. The culture at Ohio State left an imprint on him as well, and Brown might return for an official visit with the Buckeyes later this month.
North Carolina is another program working to sway Brown. He also plans to leave the door open with Penn State and its next coach. But with the clock ticking on the Nittany Lions’ coaching search and Brown intent on making a decision no later than the first week of December, Ohio State and West Virginia appear well-positioned for an important flip.
Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida
ESPN 300 rank: No. 81
Position rank: No. 14
Committed to: UCLA
Recruiting intel: Smith’s June pledge to UCLA marked a once-in-a-decade offensive line commitment for the Bruins. But a lot has changed since then, most importantly, the team’s coach. With interest swirling from around the country, will Smith ultimately land at Ohio State or in the SEC? Or can the Bruins hang on to their lone remaining ESPN 300 pledge?
The latest: Though Smith has maintained his commitment to UCLA, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman has made the rounds this fall with Ohio State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee emerging among the most prominent flip contenders in his recruitment.
Smith visited Ole Miss in September, and he was on campus at Tennessee for an official visit during the program’s Week 10 game against Oklahoma. ESPN sources expect the Rebels and Vols to be the most serious players in Smith’s process.
Sources have also reinforced the possibility of Smith remaining with UCLA. His commitment earlier this year came with a significant financial package, and Smith remains close with UCLA offensive line coach Andy Kwon. It’s not out of the question that Smith could stick with the Bruins under a new head coach, particularly if Kwon remains on the program’s staff.
Hometown: Gonzales, Louisiana
ESPN 300 rank: No. 84
Position rank: No. 15
Committed to: LSU
Recruiting intel: Brian Kelly’s departure certainly accelerated potential movement in Martinez’s process. But the 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman had been in contact with multiple SEC programs this fall, well before LSU moved on from its fourth-year coach last month.
With elite length and physicality, Martinez projects as a standout run blocker with positional flexibility in college. He held offers from Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M and Penn State upon his commitment to the in-state Tigers in February.
The latest: Texas made a notable jump in Martinez’s recruitment when he visited for the Longhorns’ win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 1, and Martinez is scheduled to return for an official visit when the program hosts Arkansas on Nov. 22.
“I’ve never heard him say, ‘I don’t want to go home,’ on a visit,” his mother, Kandace, said. “He loved it [at Texas]. He wanted to figure out when we were coming back before we even left.”
The Longhorns reach mid-November as clear front-runners among Martinez’s flip contenders. Oklahoma and Tennessee also are still involved in his process, and Martinez remains in contact with the LSU staff. But as things stand, the return trip to Texas later this month is the only visit Martinez has scheduled before the early signing period.
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ESPN 300 rank: No. 141
Position rank: No. 13
Committed to: Penn State
Recruiting intel: The longest-tenured member of the Nittany Lions’ 2026 class, Mickens has been looking elsewhere over the past month, with Indiana, Oklahoma and Ole Miss emerging among the leading contenders.
Mickens accounted for more than 3,200 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns on the ground across the first three seasons of his high school career. He initially shut down his recruitment earlier this year after a brief flirtation with Notre Dame. But since Franklin’s firing Oct. 12, Mickens stands as one of the top available running backs across the 2026 class.
The latest: Mickens heard from nearly a dozen programs after Franklin’s departure. He has since narrowed his process to three programs and plans to hit the road in the coming weeks.
Mickens is set to visit Indiana this weekend for the Hoosiers’ Week 12 matchup with Wisconsin. He’ll travel to Oklahoma, where Mickens has developed a close relationship with running backs coach DeMarco Murray, on Nov. 29, and Mickens is working to set up a trip to Ole Miss before the end of the regular season. From that group, ESPN sources view Oklahoma as the leading contender for Mickens, who also has considered South Carolina.
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
ESPN 300 rank: No. 142
Position rank: No. 1
Committed to: Auburn
Recruiting intel: The nation’s top-ranked inside linebacker remains committed to the Tigers, but Balogoun-Ali has drawn significant interest from power-conference programs in the week-plus since Freeze’s departure from Auburn.
Balogoun-Ali entered his senior season this fall as a three-year varsity contributor with 161 career tackles. His initial commitment to the Tigers over Kentucky and Missouri in June was influenced heavily by a connection with Auburn linebackers coach and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who took over as the Tigers’ interim coach Nov. 2.
The latest: Georgia, Miami, Missouri and Notre Dame are among the programs that have continued pushing to flip Balogoun-Ali over the past week. But for now, Balogoun-Ali told ESPN he remains locked in with Auburn under Durkin while the program searches for its next head coach.
“The strongest reason I committed to Auburn was to play and learn under Coach Durkin,” Balogoun-Ali told ESPN. “With him becoming interim, I’m going to give it time. Right now, it’s still War Damn Eagle.”
Missouri has been the most active program in Balogoun-Ali’s recruitment in recent weeks. In-state Miami presents another attractive spot. Georgia and Notre Dame stand as two late-arriving contenders still looking to add high-level talent on defense in the 2026 cycle.
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
ESPN 300 rank: No. 158
Position rank: No. 20
Committed to: Florida
Recruiting intel: Ford picked Florida over Ohio State and Texas in July. The promising edge rusher from Texas is still committed to the Gators, keeping in close contact with the program’s coaching staff since coach Billy Napier’s departure last month.
“It necessarily didn’t impact my recruitment,” Ford told ESPN of Napier’s firing. “I liked the campus at Florida and how the fans and culture are building for years to come. I’m not really hoping to see anything with the coaching search, just a person who can elevate the program.”
However, Ford is still drawing interest from multiple programs. He has already set for a visit with USC later this month, and looks likely to take a few more campus trips in the coming weeks.
The latest: Clemson, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and USC are leading the charge to pull Ford away from the Gators in the lead-up to the early signing period.
Initially expected to visit Texas Tech for the program’s top-10 showdown with BYU on Saturday, Ford did not make the trip to Lubbock but could still visit with the Red Raiders this month. Texas A&M, which has hosted Ford twice this fall, stands as another major player in his recruitment as the Aggies pursue late-cycle defensive line talent. USC has been a constant presence throughout Ford’s process and will host him when the Trojans face UCLA on Nov. 29.
Ford remains one of the top members of Florida’s 2026 class. But the Gators will have to fend off several surging programs to keep his pledge through signing day.
Hometown: McDonald, Pennsylvania
ESPN 300 rank: No. 162
Position rank: No. 42
Committed to: Penn State
Recruiting intel: Another longtime Penn State commit, Sieg is courting late-cycle interest from Indiana, Notre Dame, Pitt and West Virginia as he evaluates his next steps while keeping an eye on the Nittany Lions’ coaching search.
“I was really looking forward to getting set up there this December and being able to get into it,” Sieg said of Penn State. “But everything happens for a reason. So right now, I’m just trying to weigh my options and make sure me and my family make the best decision possible.”
A two-way star at Fort Cherry (Pennsylvania) High School, roughly 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Sieg remains the third-ranked pledge in Penn State’s 2026 class. But that could change over the next month as programs swarm to one of the nation’s top available safety prospects.
The latest: Sieg hit the road in the weeks after Franklin’s exit at Penn State, opening with trips to Indiana and Pitt before visiting Notre Dame this past weekend. He’ll also visit West Virginia later this month, as the Mountaineers have pitched Sieg on the chance to play both ways, tacking on opportunities at wide receiver/running back to his defensive duties.
Among the flip contenders, Indiana and Notre Dame appear best positioned in Sieg’s recruitment. Similar to other Penn State pledges, Sieg is also keeping an eye on where Franklin might land in a process that is expected to go down to the wire.
“My plan is to probably make a decision on signing day or right before,” Sieg said. “I’m trying to wait and see what ends up happening with Coach Franklin and a lot of the coaches that are still at Penn State and see what they end up doing before I make a final decision.”
Hometown: Leakesville, Mississippi
ESPN 300 rank: No. 258
Position rank: No. 14
Committed to: Auburn
Recruiting intel: Mathews, Auburn’s lone top-300 skill position pledge, fits the mold of the tall, playmaking wide receiver the Tigers have recruited in recent years. He told ESPN that the program’s decision to move on from Freeze, paired with consistent interest from a trio of rival SEC programs, has prompted him to reconsider his options in the late stages of the cycle.
“I’ve had to question myself multiple times,” Mathews said. “I’m hoping to see them grow and not falter from these losses, and in the process, see them strengthen our offense.”
Mathews’ senior season was cut short by an ACL tear. But if healthy, he projects as a potential Day 1 contributor wherever he lands next fall, which explains why the attention he has attracted this fall has only intensified since Freeze’s firing late last month.
The latest: LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M were among Mathews’ finalists when he committed to Auburn in August. Weeks out from the early signing period, he told ESPN that those three programs remain in close contact, working to flip the 6-foot-2 pass catcher from the Tigers.
Mathews saw two of those programs in person last month when he visited LSU for the Tigers’ Oct. 25 game with Texas A&M. Though Mathews intends to return to Auburn in the closing weeks of the regular season, he’s also likely to visit a few other campuses before signing day.
“Don’t be surprised if I’m on the road when the Tigers are not playing at Jordan-Hare,” Mathews said.
As Auburn conducts a coaching search, Mathews’ recruitment could roll into the first week of December, opening the door for one of his top-three suitors to make a late move.
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Greg Wyshynski
NEW YORK — Nashville Predators star Ryan O’Reilly said he regrets a frustration-fueled postgame rant last week in which he blamed himself for the team’s struggles.
“I think it came off as, ‘Gosh, you sound like a crybaby,'” he told ESPN on Monday.
After the Predators lost to the Philadelphia Flyers last Thursday, O’Reilly offered a brutal assessment of his own play, saying Nashville won’t have success “if I’m playing pathetic like that” as a No. 1 center. “[I] turn the puck over everywhere. Can’t make a six-foot pass to save my life,” O’Reilly said in a video clip that went viral. “It’s stupid. I’ve had one good year in my career. I don’t have an answer, that’s for sure.”
O’Reilly said that he “should have just bit my tongue” after the game. “Obviously, you don’t want things to get out there and it doesn’t look good on anyone on the team. I think I sound a bit like a baby where I should have politely shut up and be better and then that’s it,” he said.
The 34-year-old center has 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games this season. His 12 points are second on the team in scoring. This is O’Reilly’s third season with the Predators. He won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
The Predators are 5-8-4 heading into their game at the New York Rangers on Monday night. They were 5-9-3 in their first 17 games last season before eventually finishing 7th in the Central Division, 28 points outside of the last Western Conference playoff spot.
O’Reilly didn’t like that his rant last week brought added attention to a Nashville team that’s once again off to a slow start. “Obviously that [frustration] gets out there and it doesn’t look good on anyone on the team. You don’t want to draw attention to anything like that for our team,” he said.
However, the Predators center was optimistic things are better for Nashville than they were last season at this time.
“I think we’re much better defensively. Bounces aren’t going our way, but it’s a long season. We’re not giving up by any means and we’re going to keep fighting to find it,” he said. “Being a No. 1 center on this team, I think I do have to be better. It’s simple as that. I just maybe could have worded it a little bit better [last week].”
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