Sam O'Reilly was named the Tampa Bay Lightning's top prospect in the Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis' rankings. [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-nhl-prospect-pool-breakdown-tampa-bay-lightnings-top-10] Each off-season, Ellis goes through all 32 NHL teams' prospect pools and puts together a list of the top 10 players in each pool. On Aug. 11, it was the Lightning's turn, and topping the list was newly acquired O'Reilly. O'Reilly [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/players/what-the-lightning-are-receiving-with-sam-o-reilly] was acquired [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-trade-isaac-howard-to-oilers-for-sam-o-reilly] from the Edmonton Oilers [http://thn.com/edmonton] in the trade that saw Isaac Howard head the other way. O'Reilly is a 19-year-old center with a sound defensive game and some real offensive upside. Listed at 6-foot-1, he has a solid frame which could translate into an effective middle-six center in the NHL. "Howard might end up becoming the more productive player. But I wouldn’t be surprised if O’Reilly becomes the better player, period. The London Knights forward is more of an all-around two-way threat. I think he’s going to be a very good two-way center who loves having the puck on his stick and is very difficult to take the puck off of – something OHL defenders have struggled to do over the past few years. His toolsy nature makes him valuable in a lineup, and the Bolts seem to love guys who can do a little bit of everything all throughout the lineup. I hope to see him play big minutes with Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey moving on to pro hockey," said Ellis. Sam O'Reilly (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c4525ebe-5491-426d-b1ce-8ee3e0480261.jpeg] Sam O'Reilly (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images) Rounding out the top three were Ethan Gauthier and the Lightning's top pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, Ethan Czata [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-add-two-way-center-ethan-czata-in-second-round-of-nhl-draft]. He sees some NHL potential in both forwards. "Czata started the year with a disappointing showing at the Hlinka Gretzky, but he showed he could be equally dangerous as a shooter and a passer in the OHL. He’s a good two-way forward who can play many different situations, but I think he’ll be used more in a bottom-six role. He put up good numbers this year, but I’d like to see him add more finesse and deception into his game next season. I do think Czata will be an NHLer one day, though." Full top 10: 1. Sam O'Reilly 2. Ethan Gauthier 3. Ethan Czata 4. Dylan Duke 5. Niko Huuhtanen 6. Benjamin Rautianen 7. Connor Kurth 8. Jayson Shaugabay 9. Jack Finley 10. Joona Saarelainen
