With the thirty second total choose within the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers choose Sam O’Reilly from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
About Sam O’Reilly
Sam O’Reilly is consistently prepared to get entangled and does no matter it takes to regain possession together with his energy and physique positioning. He’s always battling and attending to the robust areas of the ice. Be it under the aim line, within the corners, or alongside the boards, O’Reilly is in the midst of all of it and often comes out on high. He tends to do most of his harm in tight areas, driving arduous to the online and creating havoc for a scoring or second-chance alternative. He has a good shot from exterior and is commonly accessible within the open ice, placing himself in the appropriate spots on the proper time to make a play or end them.
Associated: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Reside Tracker
Defensively, O’Reilly’s motor and depth are simply as robust, doing an amazing job to strain puck carriers and take alternatives away. He’s bought nice consciousness to nook gamers, neutralize, and stop performs from occurring. His lengthy attain and measurement can shortly take away time and house for opposing gamers.
O’Reilly’s work ethic makes him a really worthwhile participant for any NHL crew. The truth that he can play the wing or up the center would give them loads of choices to make the most of his strengths to their benefit. Whereas he is probably not a constant top-six choice, he may discover himself as a really efficient third-line vitality participant, being an element to set the tone and be robust defensively. His smarts will be an asset on the penalty kill and his net-front presence can positively assistance on the ability play.
THW Prospect Profile Excerpt
“There are many prospects that proceed to fly below the radar heading into the 2024 NHL Draft. One title that’s getting some recognition heading into the ultimate stretch is London Knights ahead Sam O’Reilly, as he continued to shortly enhance his draft inventory all through the season.
“If you have a look at the manufacturing, you perceive why O’Reilly was profitable in that regard. O’Reilly is a flexible 200-foot participant that may play a accountable recreation with out the puck and show a robust work ethic when he’s within the offensive zone. He doesn’t draw back from any likelihood of their being any type of physicality.”
Learn the complete prospect profile right here
How This Impacts the Oilers’ Plans
The Oilers favored what they noticed in O’Reilly to surrender picks to maneuver into the final choose of the primary spherical to pick out him. The Oilers are blissful so as to add him to their prospect pool as he has good recreation habits, is tough to play towards, and performs with some chew whereas staying throughout the guidelines. He has excellent offensive hockey sense and puck expertise and is tough to include down low.
The Oilers have added a prospect to their group who drives the online extraordinarily arduous, can tip pucks, and screens goalies. He’s bodily everywhere in the ice and may play a 200-foot recreation.
