When the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets were discussing Zach Werenski earlier this month, Sam O’Reilly’s name came up in the mix.
According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta on an edition of The Leafs Nation’s Leafs Morning Take, the former Edmonton Oilers prospect was part of the package being considered by Tampa Bay. “I think it was O’Reilly and (J.J.)
Moser in a package,” Pagnotta said. “There’s more to it on both ends, but I think those were kind of names I had heard.”
O’Reilly, 20, has already had a busy run through the last year. He started last season as captain of the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League, then produced 12 goals and 28 points in 29 games before representing Canada at the World Juniors, where he scored four goals and eight points in seven games.
After that, he was moved to the Kitchener Rangers with defenceman Jared Woolley in a deal for defenceman Jacob Xu and 10 draft picks. Those picks were spread across 2026 through 2029 and included two selections in each of the second through sixth rounds.
The change of scenery sparked a big jump in his numbers. O’Reilly finished with 17 goals and 43 points in 28 games for Kitchener, then added 17 goals and 28 points in 18 playoff games. The Rangers went on to win the OHL Championship and then the Memorial Cup, where O’Reilly was named MVP after posting three goals and eight points in four games.
The Werenski talks eventually cooled, and both the Blue Jackets and Werenski issued a statement saying they remained committed to each other moving forward.
For Tampa Bay, the mention of O’Reilly fit the reality of the roster situation. The Lightning don’t have many trade chips to work with, so hearing his name in those discussions wasn’t much of a surprise.
O’Reilly is expected to start his pro career next season with the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate.
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