# @puckempire on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DbFC3oCyrdp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68344206-puckempire-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/7b48991af5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-22T02:49:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Puck Empire 👑 (@puckempire) — https://gondola.cc/puckempire

## Caption

Continuing on with our U25 core rankings, we've got the Tampa Bay Lightning at #31.

This core isn't entirely bad... Sam O'Reilly & Benjamin Rautiainen have seen their stock rise rapidly over the past 12 months and certainly have top-six potential at this moment, but neither is a lock to become that, probably closer to 50% (despite O'Reilly incredible OHL playoff/Memorial Cuo run and Rautiainen's historic production in the Liiga).

Geekie & James to me are top-nine checking forwards at the NHL level. They'll be good surrounding pieces.

Outside of those four, the upside for Tampa's U25s isn't GREAT. Pridham, Duke, Steen & Czata probably have ~25% chance at being consistent NHLers in some capacity.

Golicic, Gauthier, Baldwin, & Connor are a tier below that, probably hovering around a ~10% chance.

Kulebiakin, Heil, & Huuhtanen are all next to zero percent dart throws.

Tampa is essentially relying HEAVILY on at least one of O'Reilly or Rautiainen to become a prominent top-six forward bare minimum. I'd say O'Reilly is more likely of the two to be that but like I said earlier, neither one is a lock for that despite the recency bias.

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