Sam O'Reilly

Sam O'Reilly
Born (2006-03-30) March 30, 2006 (age 20)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Tampa Bay Lightning
Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
NHL draft 32nd overall, 2024
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2026–present

Sam O'Reilly (born March 30, 2006) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). O'Reilly was drafted 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

OHL

London Knights

During the 2022–23 season, he was scoreless in five regular season games for the London Knights. During the 2023–24 season, in his first full season with the team, he recorded 20 goals and 36 assists in 68 regular season games. He ranked third among OHL freshmen in scoring. During the playoffs, he recorded five goals and seven assists in 16 games, and helped lead the Knights to the J. Ross Robertson Cup. He then played in the 2024 Memorial Cup, where the Knights lost the championship game to the Saginaw Spirit. Following the season, O'Reilly was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie team.

On June 28, 2024, O'Reilly was drafted 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 NHL entry draft. Following the draft, O'Reilly took part in the Oilers Development Camp and also later, their main training camp before being returned to the Knights for the 2024–25 season. On October 21, 2024, O'Reilly signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Oilers. During the 2024–25 season, O'Reilly recorded 28 goals and 43 assists in 62 regular season games. During the playoffs he recorded seven goals and 15 assists in 17 games and won a second consecutive Robertson Cup with the Knights. The Knights then returned to the Memorial Cup reaching the championship final for the second consecutive year and defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers for the title.

On July 8, 2025, O'Reilly was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard.

O'Reilly was named captain of London Knights for the 2025–26 season.

On January 7, 2026 forward was traded to the Kitchener Rangers in ''blockbuster'', along with defenseman Jared Woolley, in exchange for Jacob Xu and ten draft picks.

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2026 United States

In December 2025, he was selected to represent Canada at the 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded four goals and four assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.

Personal life

O'Reilly's nickname is "Peanut", due to his peanut allergy.

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2022–23 London Knights OHL 50000 30000
2023–24 London Knights OHL 6820365634 16571213
2024–25 London Knights OHL 6228437140 17715227
2025–26 London Knights OHL 2812162811 —————
2025–26 Kitchener Rangers OHL 2817264311 1817112812
OHL totals 1917712119896 5429336232

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2026 Canada WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 74480
Junior totals 74480

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
CHL
Memorial Cup champion 2025, 2026
Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy 2026
Memorial Cup All Star Team 2026
OHL
Second All-Rookie Team 2024
J. Ross Robertson Cup champion 2024, 2025, 2026
First All-Star Team 2026
Wayne Gretzky 99 Award 2026
Red Tilson Trophy 2026

References

  1. ↑ Morreale, Mike G. (March 15, 2024). "2024 NHL Draft notebook: O'Reilly excelling as strong 2-way forward in OHL". NHL.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  2. ↑ "RELEASE: Oilers acquire 32nd overall pick & select Sam O'Reilly from London". NHL.com. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Make it five London Knights OHL titles in two decades". The London Free Press. May 23, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Brown, Jared (May 16, 2024). "London Knights Are Victorious Once Again Capturing the 2024 OHL Championship". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Séguin, Christopher (June 3, 2024). "Spirit win their first-ever CHL championship title by defeating the Knights 4-3 in the final of the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Sweetland, Josh (May 28, 2024). "OHL Announces 2023-24 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". chl.ca. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ Knoll, Andrew (June 28, 2024). "Oilers trade up to No. 32, select forward Sam O'Reilly". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  8. ↑ McCurdy, Bruce (June 28, 2024). "Surprise! Edmonton Oilers trade for last pick in first round, select London Knights forward Sam O'Reilly". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ "RELEASE: Oilers sign O'Reilly to entry-level contract". Edmonton Oilers. October 21, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "London Knights win second straight J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions". Canadian Hockey League. May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Séguin, Christopher (June 2, 2025). "London Knights edge Medicine Hat Tigers to secure a historic third Memorial Cup title". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Lightning acquire forward Sam O'Reilly from Edmonton Oilers". NHL.com. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ Pyette, Ryan (2025-10-22). "'No surprise': Sam O'Reilly named captain of London Knights". London Free Press. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
  14. ↑ Lombardi, Luca (2026-01-07). "Media Release: Kitchener Rangers Acquire Sam O'Reilly and Jared Woolley From The London Knights - Kitchener Rangers %". Kitchener Rangers. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
  15. ↑ Staff, Sportsnet (2026-01-07). "Knights trade Sam O'Reilly to rival Rangers in blockbuster". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
  16. ↑ "Canada returns three players to club teams, trims world juniors roster". Sportsnet. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (5 January 2026). "Canada ends medal drought with bronze". IIHF.com. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  18. ↑ Cowan, Greg (November 4, 2023). "'Peanut' scores late winner as Knights top Attack 3-2". Owen Sound Sun Times. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  19. ↑ Staff, Sportsnet (2026-05-31). "Rangers' Sam O'Reilly named Memorial Cup MVP, joins exclusive club". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  20. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  21. ↑ "Kitchener Rangers complete sweep, crowned 2026 OHL Champions". Canadian Hockey League. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  22. ↑ Sweetland, Josh (2026-06-02). "OHL Announces 2025-26 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  23. ↑ Sweetland, Josh (2026-05-13). "Rangers' Sam O'Reilly claims Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff MVP". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  24. ↑ Sweetland, Josh (2026-05-05). "2026 OHL Awards - Rangers' O'Reilly wins Red Tilson Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved 2026-10-04.