Newly Acquired Sam O'Reilly Named Top Lightning Prospect

Sam O'Reilly was named the Tampa Bay Lightning's top prospect in the Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis' rankings.

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 was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers 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.