Is there still hope the Avalanche can sign Ryan O’Reilly to a long-term contract and he won’t go to arbitration? While it seems unlikely, based on the history between the sides, that remains the goal of Joe Sakic, the Avs’ executive vice president of hockey operations.

“We’re going to focus on getting Ryan signed,” Sakic said. “We want Ryan to be here, and be here a long time. Now that we’re done with the draft and free agency, we’ll be getting in contact with (Pat Morris, his agent).”

The Avs last month filed for arbitration against O’Reilly, whose salary last season was $6.5 million but his salary cap hit was $5 million. Under rules of arbitration, O’Reilly can choose a one- or two-year offer from the mediator and his salary for 2014-15 can’t be less than 85 percent of his last base salary, which means he will make at least $5.525 million.

Morris, who didn’t return a call Thursday, told Canadian television network Sportsnet last month: “Ryan is unrestricted in two years, and under the model now, given that Colorado has ‘arbed’ him, short term looks like what the future is for Ryan going forward, possibly year to year or for the next two years. … Some people might look a little sideways that a team has done that to a special player, but they certainly have the business right to do that and Ryan is mature, but there’s a history a little bit on the previous contract and Ryan is a stubborn young man.”

At the NHL awards show in Las Vegas last week, O’Reilly said “it’s nothing personal” between him and the Avalanche, but he gave little indication of how long he hopes to stay with the team beyond the two years until he can become an unrestricted free agent.

“I want to be here next year. I want to be here and try to win again,” O’Reilly said. “I love (Patrick Roy) as a coach, and the guys on the team are unbelievable. Obviously, I want to be here, but it’s just the business side that has to happen. … I’m just going to take it year to year and try to win a Cup.”

Teams have until Saturday to make O’Reilly, a restricted free agent, the kind of offer sheet the Calgary Flames made early last year. Sakic said the Avs would match any such offer, as they did to keep him the last time. If the Avs and O’Reilly can’t agree on a deal by July 15, their case will be assigned to an arbitrator and the hearing has to take place before July 30.

Adrian Dater: adater@denverpost.com or twitter.com/adater