Edmonton Oilers Acquire Isaac Howard from Tampa Bay Lightning in Trade for Sam O'Reilly.

The Edmonton Oilers traded forward prospect Sam O'Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for first-round pick Isaac Howard, who was drafted by the Lightning with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Howard won the Hobey Baker Award in 2023 after scoring 52 points in 37 games for Michigan State. O'Reilly was drafted by Edmonton with the 32nd pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Title: Edmonton Oilers Acquire Isaac Howard from Tampa Bay Lightning in Exchange for Sam O'Reilly

The Edmonton Oilers have significantly bolstered their forward prospects by acquiring 21-year-old Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The trade, completed on Tuesday, saw the Oilers send forward prospect Sam O'Reilly to the Lightning in exchange for Howard [1].

Howard, who was drafted by the Lightning with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has had a remarkable career thus far. He scored 52 points in 37 games for Michigan State during his junior season, earning him the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player. Howard's impressive performance has made him an attractive addition to the Oilers, who are currently in a championship window [1, 2].

O'Reilly, who was selected 32nd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Oilers, played 62 regular-season games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League last season. He recorded 28 goals and 71 points, contributing significantly to the Knights' success. O'Reilly also played in 17 playoff games, netting seven goals and 22 points to help the Knights win the J. Ross Robertson Cup [3].

The Oilers announced that Howard has agreed to a three-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2025-26 season. This move provides the cap-strapped Oilers with additional financial flexibility, as they have parted ways with several high-profile players, including Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown, Evander Kane, John Klingberg, and Corey Perry [1].

Howard's acquisition adds to the active day for college hockey in July, which began with Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick for 2026, announcing his commitment to Penn State [1].

References:
[1] https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/45698516/oilers-acquire-isaac-howard-lightning-sam-oreilly
[2] https://www.reuters.com/sports/oilers-lightning-swap-first-round-picks-sam-oreilly-isaac-howard-2025-07-09/
[3] https://apnews.com/article/lightning-oilers-isaac-howard-sam-oreilly-cbfaa4039da7c6754cf02af9c4025515