O’Reilly Drawing Attention At Development Camp

Christmas has arrived in the middle of summer for Tampa Bay Lightning fans, particularly those who have a deep interest in the long-term future of this franchise.

The team’s annual development camp opens this morning at 10 a.m., and there is no prospect more eagerly anticipated to watch over the five days than 20-year-old forward Sam O’Reilly.

“He’s going to be a young player, but with a really good upside,” Tampa Bay General Manager Julien BriseBois said last month in his post-season press conference. “The way that he plays the game, even with the small sample we got in training camp, tells me he probably won’t need that much time in order to be able to come here and contribute.”

Currently, the development camp roster comprises 19 players: 12 forwards, four defensemen, and three goaltenders. However, BriseBois said on Saturday, following the National Hockey League Draft, that some of the team’s new draft picks could – in theory – participate, as well.

“(Lightning Director of Player Development) J.P. Cote is communicating with all of them, and their representatives today,” BriseBois said. “I’ve not gotten a breakdown to see if we will be able to get everyone in on time.”

Tampa Bay selected six players on Saturday, led by forward Oleg Kulebiakin, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia.

BriseBois traded up from the 58th selection to the 52nd to choose the University of Massachusetts signee.

In the third round, the Lightning picked defenseman Tomas Kralovic (90th overall) from Bratislava Slovan of the Slovakian League, which is also his hometown.

In the fifth round, Tampa Bay selected forward Morgan Anderberg (134th overall) of the Vaxjo Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League. Anderberg is a native of Stockholm.

Twenty picks later, the Lightning chose Los Angeles native Cooper Soller from Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League.

BriseBois built his goaltending depth by selecting Stepan Shurygin from the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League with the 186th pick overall (sixth round). Shurygin is a native of Samara, Russia.

With the team’s seventh-round selection, BriseBois landed defenseman Max Vilen (218th overall), who is a native of Hammarlöv, Sweden.

“A lot of these players are European,” BriseBois noted. “They are in Europe (this summer). Some of them may have visa requirements, especially when you are talking about Russian players.

“It, sometimes, is a little more complicated.”

For those who do participate in the camp this week, BriseBois said it should prove to be an eye-opening experience.

“Now,” BriseBois said with eagerness, “we get our hands on them this week. “They’ll get exposed to professional hockey for the first time. They’ll get an idea of the work still left to be done in order for them to achieve their goal of playing in the NHL someday.

“I would think that is the first thing (they learn), just to realize the standard, the level of execution, the fitness level, competition, commitment, and work ethic that is required for them to get to where, ultimately, they are hoping to be, which is that NHL player. A Tampa Bay Lightning NHL player.”

The workouts begin with on-ice testing at 10 a.m. at the TGH IcePlex today. The camp will conclude with the annual 3-on-3 tournament on Thursday and Friday.

Aside from the heralded O’Reilly, the invitees will include 2025 draft picks Ethan Czata, Aiden Foster, Everett Baldwin, Marco Mignosa, Grant Spada, and goaltender Caleb Heil. , becoming just the fourth player ever to do so.

One of his Kitchener teammates, Jack Pridham (a University of Denver signee), will also be in camp this week, as will 2024 Lightning draft picks Jan Golicic, Hagen Burrows, and goalkeeper Harrison Meneghin.