OHL In The System: Tampa Bay Lightning

This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.

Join us for OHL In the System!

Tampa Bay’s prospect pool is electric, today let’s take a look at the next wave hoping to spark success.

 

Ethan Czata (C) – Niagara IceDogs (2023-25)
Selected: 2nd Round, 56th Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 130 GP, 28 G, 44 A, 72 PTS, -44
Age: 18

Going 56th overall on Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft, Ethan Czata took a big step forward offensively in his sophomore season with the Niagara IceDogs, recording 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points – good for fourth in team scoring. Known for his offensive instincts and playmaking touch, Czata registered 13 multi-point games, including a season-best five-point performance against Sudbury in mid-December.

 

Grant Spada (D) – Guelph Storm (2023-25)
Selected: 7th Round, 212th Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 65 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 6 PTS, -30
Age: 18

With their first pick in the seventh round, the Lightning added size to their blue line by selecting Grant Spada out of Guelph. The 6-foot-4 defenceman recorded six assists and 85 penalty minutes across 58 games this season. 

 

Kaden Pitre (C) – Flint Firebirds (2022-25)
Selected: 6th Round, 181st Overall (2024)
OHL Career Stats: 155 GP, 39 G, 55 A, 94 PTS, -16
Age: 19

In his third season with Flint, Kaden Pitre enjoyed a breakout campaign, more than doubling his offensive totals from the year prior. He posted 53 points (22-31–53) in 57 regular-season games, finishing second on the team in scoring. 

 

Sam O’Reilly (C) – London Knights (2022-25)
Acquired: July 08, 2025
OHL Career Stats: 135 GP, 48 G, 79 A, 127 PTS, +83
Age: 19

A key contributor on the Memorial Cup-winning London Knights, Sam O’Reilly was recently acquired by the Lightning in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. He skated in 62 regular-season games and recorded 71 points (28-43–71) with a +56 rating, ranking fourth for goals, third for points and second for plus/minus among all London skaters. In the Memorial Cup, he posted 5 points in as many games, including the primary assist on the game-winning goal in the championship game. O’Reilly was originally drafted by the Oilers in the first round (32nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft.

 

Marco Mignosa (RW) – Soo Greyhounds (2021-25)
Selected: 7th Round, 215th Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 238 GP, 81 G, 119 A, 200 PTS, +5
Age: 20

With their second seventh-round pick, Tampa Bay selected overage forward Marco Mignosa from the Soo Greyhounds. A consistent offensive producer throughout his OHL career, Mignosa led his team with 85 points (36-49–85) in 58 games this past season. 

 

Roman Schmidt (D) – Kitchener Rangers (2021-24), Kingston Frontenacs (2023-24)
Selected: 3rd Round, 96th Overall (2021)
OHL Career Stats: 179 GP, 23 G, 70 A, 93 PTS, -7
Age: 22

In his first full professional season with the Syracuse Crunch, Roman Schmidt appeared in 49 games, collecting five points (3-2–5) and logging 79 penalty minutes. His physical game and defensive awareness earned him the Eastern Shore Insurance Agency’s Most Improved Player of the Year award. Schmidt is expected to continue developing in Syracuse this fall.

 

Tomorrow on In The System, we’ll take a look at the OHL Talent inside the Colorado Avalanche organization!