The Edmonton Oilers organization announced a notable transaction on Tuesday, executing a trade that sends their 2024 first-round draft pick, forward Sam O`Reilly, to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In return, the Oilers acquire forward Isaac Howard, a 2022 first-round selection by the Lightning, who comes to Edmonton following a standout season in the NCAA.
At 21 years old, Isaac Howard joins the Oilers fresh off an exceptional collegiate campaign with Michigan State University. The five-foot-11 left-shot winger posted impressive offensive statistics during the 2024-25 season, recording 26 goals and 26 assists for a total of 52 points across just 37 games. This remarkable performance earned Howard the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the top player in men`s NCAA Division I hockey – a significant feather in any prospect`s cap.
Howard`s successful season wasn`t confined to the college circuit; he also contributed to the United States` gold medal victory at the 2025 World Hockey Championship, tallying one assist in four games. The Oilers confirmed that Howard has signed a three-year entry-level contract, slated to begin with the 2025-26 season, indicating his readiness to make the leap to professional hockey immediately.
Departing the Oilers organization is 19-year-old forward Sam O`Reilly. Drafted 32nd overall just last month in the 2024 NHL entry draft – giving him a rather brief tenure as an Oilers prospect, proving that in hockey, even recent draft picks are commodities – O`Reilly spent the past season making a significant impact for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He accumulated 28 goals and 71 points in 62 regular-season games.
O`Reilly`s playoff performance was equally impressive as he helped the Knights capture their second consecutive J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions, scoring 7 goals and 22 points in 17 post-season games. He also played a key role in London`s Memorial Cup triumph, adding 2 goals and 5 points in 5 games during the national championship tournament. His 22 playoff points and plus-24 rating both ranked third among all London skaters.
This trade represents a strategic maneuver by the Oilers, opting to acquire a slightly older, highly decorated college player who appears poised for the professional ranks in the near future, in exchange for a younger, promising major junior prospect with a strong OHL track record. While O`Reilly offers considerable upside and potential for future development, Howard brings the proven success of a Hobey Baker season and the certainty of being signed and ready to turn pro. For the Lightning, they gain a high-potential, albeit younger, prospect in O`Reilly. It`s a swap of development timelines and trajectories, a calculated gamble by both clubs.
Ultimately, Edmonton adds a top NCAA talent in Isaac Howard, securing his entry-level deal, while Tampa Bay acquires a recent first-round OHL forward in Sam O`Reilly. Only time will tell which team benefits most from this intriguing prospect exchange.
