The Lightning’s preseason opener on Sunday night did more than just start the exhibition schedule. With four preseason games packed into seven days, it also gave Tampa Bay an early chance to sort through players fighting for roster spots and to get a longer look at some of its top prospects.
Sam O’Reilly made his preseason debut and was put right into spots where he could matter. Head coach Jon Cooper made sure of that, especially on faceoffs.
“It was great because when they had the faceoffs on the right side, he won them,” said Cooper. “Some of these kids, you're going to get to watch play some of these games. You’ve got to put them in these situations and see what they can do and see where they can excel, and I thought he was excellent all the way around.”
O’Reilly’s biggest moment came early, when he was on a line with Conor Geekie and Benjamin Rautiainen. He disrupted Nashville forward Cole O’Hara’s play, and Geekie finished it off with the game-winning goal at 4:29 of the first period.
“Just saw the puck go up there,” said O’Reilly. “Tracked back hard, tried to go stick on puck, and I got the stick on it. Then, thankfully, Geekes was right there and made no mistake.”
The night also gave other young players a chance to get their feet wet, including forwards Oleg Kulebiakin and Ethan Czata, two of the organization’s most recent draft picks. With three preseason games still ahead, those prospects have more chances to keep pushing their case for the upcoming season.
The Lightning have Monday off before heading back to Nashville for their second preseason game Tuesday night.
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For the Lightning, this is not just about keeping a star winger in the fold, but about how far they are willing to push to do it. Negotiations are ongoing, and there is real intrigue around whether both sides can find common ground before the situation gets any more complicated. The longer it stretches, the more the contract becomes a centerpiece of Tampa Bays future planning, with every step carrying cap implications the front office cannot afford to ignore. [Read more 🡒]