Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Tampa Bay Lightning dangle Sam O'Reilly, Pittsburgh Penguins linked as trade fit
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta on Morning Cuppa Hockey floats Sam O'Reilly as Tampa Bay Lightning trade bait, and the Pittsburgh Penguins should pay attention.
Tampa is not acting like a desperate seller. They are a legit buyer.
The Lightning sit 38-16-4, and that's the kind of record that makes teams swing big.
Pagnotta's nugget is the shocker, Tampa may be willing to "dangle" O'Reilly to upgrade for a run.
That matters for Kyle Dubas, because Pittsburgh's window is two timelines at once.
The Penguins are 31-15-13, but the roster still screams for a future top-six center to grow into the next era.
Re Lightning trade deadline: "Sam O'Reilly, he is by all accounts one of the pieces that they're dangling."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
O'Reilly is 19, a 2024 first-rounder, 32nd overall, drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and acquired by Tampa in July 2025 for Isaac Howard.
His numbers pop for a kid who plays a responsible, inside game.
Last season in London, he put up 28-43-71 in 62 games with a plus-56.
Sam O'Reilly fits the Pittsburgh Penguins future
Penguins fans are tired of "win-now" moves that age like milk, so a real prospect name coming back would hit differently.
This year he has 24-29-53 across 49 OHL games, split between London and Kitchener.
He also showed on a bigger stage at the 2026 World Juniors with 4-4-8 in seven games.
If Tampa is packaging him, it likely means they want an NHL piece who helps immediately, maybe a defender who can survive playoff forechecks.
Dubas can lean into his best trick, turning today's value into tomorrow's core without punting the present.
O'Reilly would not fix Pittsburgh overnight, but he could be the kind of smart, two-way center prospect you build a real transition around.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Pittsburgh Penguins lead NHL in trades as Kyle Dubas eyes more before Friday deadline
Pittsburgh Penguins lead NHL in trades as Kyle Dubas eyes more before Friday deadline
| POLL | ||
MARS 2|170 ANSWERS Tampa Bay Lightning dangle Sam O'Reilly, Pittsburgh Penguins linked as trade fit Should teams pursue Sam O'Reilly from the Tampa Bay Lightning? | ||
| Yes | 79 | 46.5 % |
| No | 91 | 53.5 % |
| List of polls | ||