A player with a very impressive junior-hockey resume is on the verge of getting his first NHL shot.
Sam O'Reilly has been recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the club announced Tuesday.
O'Reilly was MVP of the OHL regular season and playoffs as well as the Memorial Cup last season after leading the Kitchener Rangers to the CHL and OHL titles. He was acquired by the Rangers in a mid-season deal with the London Knights, with whom he also won a Memorial Cup and two OHL championships.
O'Reilly, 20, also had eight points in seven games for bronze medal-winning Canada at last year's world junior championship.
The Toronto native has two goals and four assists in 12 games with AHL Syracuse.
The Lightning acquired O'Reilly in a deal with the Edmonton Oilers for Isaac Howard in July 2025.
O'Reilly was selected in the first round (32nd overall) by Edmonton in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Lightning are in Buffalo on Wednesday to face the Sabres.
