Edmonton Oilers’ Rising Star Ranked Second-Best Prospect After Impressive Performances

The Edmonton Oilers made a trade to get into the first round of last year’s draft specifically to pick Sam O’Reilly, who is now considered the team’s second-best prospect.

With the final pick of the first round, the Oilers traded a conditional 2025 first-round pick because they saw something special in O’Reilly. His pre-draft performance was impressive, but his play during the Young Stars Classic has boosted his value even more. OilersNation now ranks him as the team’s second-best prospect.

O’Reilly, a 6’1″ right-shot center, is already valuable just by his size and position. However, his mature two-way play stands out, especially since he managed to excel in limited minutes on a strong London Knights team. As older players move on and O’Reilly gets more ice time, his potential could skyrocket if he continues to succeed.

During the Young Stars Classic, O’Reilly made a series of smart plays that caught the attention of scouts and experts. His background as a defenseman up until age 16 is evident in how he plays center—he’s always aware of positioning, space, and the importance of each puck touch.

According to Oilers prospect analyst Bruce Curlock, O’Reilly is almost guaranteed to become an NHL player based on his defensive abilities as a forward. Some are even suggesting that Edmonton might have found their own version of a young Patrice Bergeron in Sam O’Reilly.