The Tampa Bay Lightning's recent success in the NHL draft has been a topic of much discussion, and for good reason. While the team has historically struggled to secure high-end picks, their recent performance has been a refreshing change. The Lightning now find themselves with two prospects in The Athletic's Top 100 drafted NHL prospect rankings, a significant achievement for a team that has only drafted one player in the first round in the last seven years. This is a testament to the team's ability to identify and develop talent, even without the typical high-end picks.
One of the prospects, Sam O'Reilly, is ranked #65, and The Athletic's Scott Wheeler is impressed by his all-around game. Wheeler projects O'Reilly as a 'well-rounded, complementary pro and effective 3C', which is a significant achievement for a player who was not drafted by the Lightning. This highlights the team's ability to identify and develop players who can contribute to the team's success, even if they are not high-end picks.
The other prospect, Conor Geekie, is ranked #83, and Wheeler has him pegged as a middle-six forward. Geekie's ranking seems fair, given his skating and hand skills, which are still below average but have improved. However, O'Reilly's ranking seems a bit low, and it will be interesting to see how perceptions change as he enters the professional level.
The Lightning's success in the draft is a refreshing change for a team that has struggled to secure high-end picks. It is a testament to the team's ability to identify and develop talent, and it is a positive sign for the future of the team. However, it is also a reminder that success in the NHL draft is not solely dependent on high-end picks, and that the Lightning have the ability to identify and develop players who can contribute to the team's success.
In my opinion, the Lightning's success in the draft is a significant achievement, and it is a positive sign for the future of the team. It is a reminder that success in the NHL is not solely dependent on high-end picks, and that the Lightning have the ability to identify and develop players who can contribute to the team's success. This is a fascinating development for the team, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to develop and improve in the future.
