1. What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not playing hockey?
Favorite thing to do when I’m not playing hockey would have to be playing music or going to see live music.
2. Of all the cities you have been to, which is your favorite?
Of all the cities I go to I’d have to say either Dallas or LA. Anytime I can get some place warm I usually enjoy as hockey is always in a cold atmosphere.
3. Most families/friends hang out around the kitchen. What dish would Ryan O’Reilly make to keep them there?
This is a tough question because I don’t have that many, but I feel I can make a nice lentil pasta dish with lots of fresh vegetables and very healthy. Most people like it.
4. What is your dream vacation destination?
For a dream vacation, I think a golf trip some place would be great. I love Ireland and have been there, but would love to also travel to Spain with a few close friends.
5. What would your dream home consist of? What is personal home style?
For my dream house, I would love something either a lake or the ocean, possibly overhanging with a lot of glass. It would be modern but with a lot of textures and unique materials. The front of the house would have a lot of trees to get a feeling of being in the woods and the main view from inside the house would be of the water. I would love a living wall with greenery and running water inside the home.
6. Any upcoming projects we should know about?
I’m starting to work on building a small cottage located on a lot a little bit inland from Lake Huron. It’s going to be much smaller than what I picture my dream house being. It’s going to consist of one big, main room facing the lake with a little view. A glass hallway will lead to three bedrooms sectioned off like pods all looking out into the woods with floor to ceiling glass. I want each room to have its own little cottage feeling.
7. What do you love about playing in the NHL?
There are so many things I love about playing in the NHL. I feel it’s the greatest game out there. The speed of the game is so challenging and there are so many different skills that come into play. Being a team sport, you develop so many great relationships and constantly push each other to grow and succeed. There’s nothing else I’d rather do.
8. Who, either former or current NHL player, do you look up to?
As a kid, my brother and I wanted to do everything Wayne Gretzky did. The things he did with the puck were so different and amazing to us. He was one of the main players I looked up to when I was young. As I got older, Pavel Bure was fantastic player who I would sometimes pretend to be.
2014 NHL Awards – Inside