Oilers, Lightning swap first-round picks Sam O'Reilly, Isaac Howard

Field Level Media
09 Jul 2025, 20:49 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The Edmonton Oilers acquired reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard from the Lightning, sending forward prospect Sam O'Reilly to Tampa Bay in exchange.

The Oilers announced the trade late Tuesday after signing the forward to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The Lightning drafted Howard with the No. 31 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, before he played as a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth. The Wisconsin native spent the next two seasons at Michigan State, where he won the top award in college hockey after scoring 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games.

Had the trade not occurred, Howard intended to return to college for his senior season and become an unrestricted free agent.

Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois said in May that signing the 21-year-old likely wasn't in the offing for the Lightning.

'When I chatted with Isaac, he was pretty candid, and I appreciated his honesty, and I thank him for his honesty,' BriseBois said. 'He values the opportunity to choose the club that he believes is the best fit for him. And I won't speak for him, but he values that. Right now, I would say it's unlikely that we will sign him.'

O'Reilly, 19, was taken by Edmonton with the No. 32 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He played for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League last season, tallying 98 points in 84 regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup games.

--Field Level Media

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