Lightning Trade for Prospect Jack Pridham

The Tampa Bay Lightning continued to invest in their future Monday, acquiring the rights to prospect Jack Pridham from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

“You know,” Tampa Bay General Manager Julien BriseBois said last month in a press conference, “you are looking for opportunities to have a pipeline of players, whether it is via trades, free agents, or organically developed players, who can come in, step in, and play a role for many years to come.”

Monday’s move gives Tampa Bay control of one of junior hockey’s most productive offensive players after a breakout season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League.

The 20-year-old scored 46 goals and added 44 assists for 90 points in 65 regular-season games this season. His 46 goals ranked second in the OHL, while his 90 points placed him fifth among all OHL scorers. He also excelled on the power play, finishing tied for third with 16 power-play goals.

The 6-foot-1, 176-pound winger capped his junior career Sunday by helping Kitchener capture the Memorial Cup championship. 

Pridham recorded a goal and two assists in the title game victory over Everett and finished the tournament as its leading scorer with five goals and nine points.

“It’s amazing,” Pridham told the media following the title game. “It’s everything we worked towards this year.”.

The Stouffville, Ontario, native credited Kitchener’s coaching staff and close-knit locker room for helping the Rangers reach the pinnacle of Canadian junior hockey.

“It starts with our coaching staff,” he said. “We got a great coaching staff throughout, and they put together a great team and a great group of guys. We all bonded throughout the year. We’re a family. We love each other so much. To see everyone smiling and all the hard work we put in this year, it’s truly so special.”

Pridham tallied a team-leading 15 assists and 17 points in 18 playoff games.

His final game in junior hockey proved to be the perfect ending.

“It means everything,” Pridham said of the title. “Champion is something no one can take away from you. It’s so special.”

Pridham’s success came alongside fellow Ranger and Tampa Bay prospect Sam O’Reilly, who enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in OHL history.

O’Reilly was named the OHL’s Most Valuable Player during both the regular season and playoffs before also earning Memorial Cup MVP honors. Only three other players have ever swept all three awards: former Lightning stars Brad Richards and Corey Perry, along with Vegas Golden Knights standout Mitch Marner.

“It’s pretty great. It’s hard to put into words,” O’Reilly told the media after Sunday’s victory. “I’ve been lucky to be a part of the great teams I’ve been on.”

O’Reilly is expected to attend Tampa Bay’s training camp in September.

“The way that (O’Reilly) plays the game already,” BriseBois said, “even that small sample that we got in (the 2025) training camp, tells me he probably won’t need that much time to be able to come here and contribute. Because he already plays a pro-style game.”

The philosophy of continually adding youth now includes Pridham, who is expected to play NCAA hockey next season. Social media reports on Monday indicated that he may sign with defending NCAA Division I champion University of Denver soon.

Originally selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft, 92nd overall, Pridham now becomes part of Tampa Bay’s long-term plans as the organization looks to extend its championship window for years to come.

“When we have those young guys,” BriseBois said of constructing a roster, “we can count on them for many years. They’re extremely valuable, and we are trying to get as many of them into the fold as possible.

“That is why, if you look at the trades we have done over the years, we’ve usually tried to get players who are under team control, either not yet achieving or not yet at their peak, they are still in development, they still have untapped potential, or players who are in their prime, and we knew they would be in their prime for years to come.”