Edmonton Oilers select Sam O’Reilly No. 32 overall in 2024 NHL Draft

On Friday at The Sphere in Las Vegas, the Edmonton Oilers traded to get into the first round and took Sam O’Reilly with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

O’Reilly spent the 2023-24 campaign with the prestigious London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where he tallied 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points in 68 games. O’Reilly added five goals and 12 points in 16 OHL Playoff contests en route to an OHL Championship. The 18-year-old added three assists and four points in four games at the 2024 Memorial Cup in Saginaw, Michigan. 

O’Reilly was a riser and a player that many people have pegged to be this years potential “Easton Cowan” or “Fraser Minten.” Many people didn’t expect him to have the breakout season he did with London, but he finished third in goals and was second in assists. His improvement was seen on both ends of the ice as O’Reilly was not afraid to get involved in the play at all. He does whatever it takes to get the puck and loves to create havoc. The Toronto, Ontario, product’s work ethic and drive are what will attract a team during the draft extravaganza, but it’s his overall play that stands out.

Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis, rated O’Reilly No. 51 overall.

“O’Reilly has been one of the biggest movers in the draft rankings due to his play as a smart, two-way center. He had a solid playoff run, too, playing a great secondary role. O’Reilly was playing Jr. B with the London Nationals last year, but it didn’t take him long to get acquainted to the speed and tenacity of the OHL. He put up better numbers than Easton Cowan did last year and just below Denver Barkey, so that’s a good sign. O’Reilly is toolsy, which is important for a player his age.”

The Oilers finished with a 49-27-6 record in the 2023-24 season, giving them 104 points — enough to finish 9th in the league. Edmonton lost the Stanley Cup Final in seven games to the Florida Panthers.