The Avalanche traded center Ryan O’Reilly and left wing Jamie McGinn to the Buffalo Sabres early during Friday’s NHL draft for three young players and the 31st selection, which will be the first pick Saturday. Coming to the Avalanche are Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko, 21; Buffalo defenseman Nikita Zadorov, 20; and prospect J.T. Compher, 20, of the University of Michigan. O’Reilly, 24, and McGinn, 26, are 2016 pending unrestricted free agents . RELATED: Mikko Rantanen selected by Colorado Avalanche at No. 10 in NHL draft According to an NHL source, O’Reilly requested a contract extension for eight years, $64 million ($8 million annually). He was scheduled to make a team-high $6.2 million ($6 million cap hit) in 2015-16, his final year before possibly becoming an unrestricted free agent. “We’re looking for back-end help and Zadorov is a huge piece,” Avs general manage Joe Sakic said on NBC Sports Network. “We like JT and Mikhail as well. We just think (they) add to … [Read more...] about Ryan O’Reilly traded by Avs to Buffalo for 3 players, No. 31 draft pick