Julien BriseBois, vice president and general manager, announced that forward Sam O’Reilly has been called up to the Tampa Bay Lightning from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
O’Reilly is looking to make his NHL debut.
The 20-year-old forward has skated in 12 games with Syracuse this season. He has recorded two goals and four points with 26 shots on goal and one power-play tally, nhl.com reported.
The @TBLightning have recalled forward Sam O'Reilly from the Crunch.https://t.co/xakxjAd9Rv
- Musculoskeletal Demographics: O’Reilly measures 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, providing a robust physical profile for professional hockey competition.
- Professional Progression: The forward transitions from the American Hockey League directly to the National Hockey League roster under general manager Julien BriseBois.
- Developmental Trajectory: The player moves up after logging 12 games, two goals, and four points in Syracuse this season.
The Toronto, Ontario, native made his AHL debut on October 2 at Laval, nhl.com reported. He logged his first career point with an assist on the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory.
Prior to joining the Crunch, O’Reilly appeared in 191 career Ontario Hockey League contests. Those games came between the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers, where he registered 77 goals and 198 points with a plus-103 rating.
O'REILLY CALL UP! 🚨@TBLightning top prospect, Sam O'Reilly, was recalled from the @SyracuseCrunch to Tampa earlier today. O'Reilly is a proven champion with three @OHLHockey Championships and two Memorial Cups under his belt. He is also only the fourth player in @CHLHockey… pic.twitter.com/e0ViWhh2jM
The forward was a back-to-back Memorial Cup Champion in 2025 and 2026, according to nhl.com. During a single campaign last year, he achieved the distinction of becoming just the fourth individual in the history of the OHL to capture the regular season MVP, playoff MVP, and Memorial Cup MVP awards.
| Metric / Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| OHL Career Totals (London / Kitchener) | 191 contests, 77 goals, 198 points, plus-103 rating |
| Acquisition Date | Traded to Tampa Bay on July 8, 2025 |
Back at the 2024 NHL Draft, the Edmonton Oilers initially selected O’Reilly in the opening round with the 32nd overall pick. Tampa Bay acquired him via trade on July 8, 2025.
- National Hockey League (NHL.com) – Official Team Transactions and Player Bio: Sam O’Reilly.
