In a late-night deal, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers are swapping recent first-round picks, as forward Sam O’Reilly is heading to the Lightning in exchange for forward Isaac Howard. Both teams have announced the deal. The Oilers also announced Howard has signed a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26.
O’Reilly was selected 32nd overall by the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Draft and posted 28 goals, 71 points, and a plus-56 rating in 62 games for the OHL’s London Knights this past season. He added 22 points in 17 playoff games. In 135 career regular-season games with London, O’Reilly, 19, has scored 127 points to go along with 74 penalty minutes. A two-time OHL champion, the 6’1″, 190 center has added 34 playoff points through 33 games. More than just an offensive threat, O’Reilly has the potential, size, and physicality to also be a shutdown center.
Howard, selected 31st overall in the 2023 draft, spent the last two seasons at Michigan State University after transferring from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Howard, a 5’11”, 190-pound left wing, took his game to the next level during the 2024-25 season, posting 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games. On a team that featured eight other players either drafted or signed by NHL clubs, he led the Spartans in scoring by 21 points and went on to win the Hobey Baker Award. In two seasons with Michigan State, Howard has produced 88 points and a plus-22 rating.
While O’Reilly may have the higher ceiling as a two-way player, Howard, 21, is closer to being NHL-ready. When Howard does make the jump to professional hockey, his sharp shooting ability and quick skating could make him an immediate fit in the Oilers’ already dangerous top six. Insider Frank Seravalli notes that the Oilers plan to have Howard in their opening night lineup this October.
I’m perfectly fine with this trade as it’s literally a 1st round prospect for a 1st round prospect. Isaac Howard didn’t want to play for Tampa for reasons that are not entirely clear. He’s reportedly has an attitude problem. Best of luck to Edmonton in dealing with a player who seems entitled. Howard has much talent but he could be a problem if Edmonton doesn’t take control & set things straight with him. They did with Evander Kane, so who knows.
As for Tampa, I quite like Sam O’Reilly as he’s an aggressive agitator, defensive center & playmaker. He’s going to be a great addition to Tampa and potentially bring a caliber of player in the form of such players as Corey Perry, Sam Bennett, & such. We’ll see how things go.
Every time you emotional types feel slighted by a player taking some control of where he works you babble about him “reportedly” having an attitude problem and how he is entitled. You got to choose where you work and your employer – reportedly someone said you were also entitled and bringing an attitude problem. True stuff?
Where has it been reported he has an attitude problem?
@Doghockey – I don’t feel slighted at all. However, based on your short-sighted perspective, the league shouldn’t even bother to have a draft by your standards as these prospects who have not proven themselves in the NHL should be able to decide who they should go to or not. That’s ridiculous. You forget, the league doesn’t owe players anything. It’s a privilege to be a professional athlete and players have to earn their position. Isaac Howard hasn’t proven a single thing in the NHL. An established player has the right to choose where he wants to play or not because he’s earned it. Prospects like Howard have not.
the bidding war that you predicted never happened, alas
@jdgoat – One of the top NHL insiders reported it a couple months back and it’s been reported in a couple of other articles. I don’t have the links to the sources but I’m sure you could find them if the articles remain online.
@yeasties – Actually it did. You obviously didn’t keep up on the matter. There was several teams including the Oilers, Rangers, & so forth bidding for Howard. Tampa’s GM BriseBois even stated a number of teams were giving offers for Howard. Tampa obviously went with Edmonton’s offer in the end. Alas, you’re incorrect.
If he does have an attitude problem I’m sure Conner and Leon and the others will keep him in line.
Nobody is saying that. Nobody is saying he should not go or have the right to do so. In this situation, I as a lightning fan like O’Reilly better.
I am pointing out the obvious hypocrisy of the situation. I actually feel for the kids that do this. Very ballsy move, as opposed to signing with the team you are drafted by.
There is no financial incentive, the entry level deals are standard.
How do you feel about players who get traded? Shouldn’t they have a say as to where they are traded?
The poor attitude comments are 100% fabricated. His college coach loves him. Please don’t spout negative crap with no evidence.
@predoil – I don’t need provide evidence & no it’s not fabricated just because you claim it is. If you don’t believe me on the matter, that’s on you & go do the research. His attitude issues are not in college, it’s about his entitlement and his conduct on turning pro.
Also of course his college coach “loves him”. He’s not going to bad mouth a college kid in public as that’s not professional nor good for a college’s reputation. Howard hasn’t broken any laws to be publicly outed in such a form.
The comment “However, based on your short-sighted perspective, the league shouldn’t even bother to have a draft by your standards as these prospects who have not proven themselves in the NHL should be able to decide who they should go to or not” is way, way off base. The perspective that young players should have some element of control over their careers is anything but short-sighted. One can easily argue that ownership exploits their monopolistic position in the marketplace to suppress the freedoms that prospective employees have in most other professions. One can easily also argue that the NHLPA has been at minimum complicit with this in order to benefit their current members (i.e., the existing players who comprise the NHLPA voting membership). But, the hypocrisy here is best shown by players joining the NHL like Maxim Shabanov & Karsen Dorwart amongst a number of undrafted others. They come in as free agents free to negotiate with any team and jump right into the NHL only because…they weren’t good enough to be drafted a few years prior? But since Isaac Howard looked better 3 years back, he can’t? That’s totally nonsensical but is the way that it is. Calling that unfair hypocrisy out isn’t short sighted: Slighting those who do is.
Can you cite these offers? Guessing not.
Seems like more of your “reportedly” stuff. A top insider and others reported it but you have nothing to support your claim? Well played.
Apparently this prospect did have the right to have some input on his first stop in the NHL. Good for him for using it.
If you have this solid evidence you would provide it instead of hiding behind the weak “you go do the research” ploy.
Starting a bogus claim with “I don’t need to provide evidence” is probably not the best method of proving your credibility. I saw somewhere that the moon is made of cheese.
Who is the “top insider”? This sounds more and more like you coping than actual reality. The fact that nobody else has seen this “reported” fact makes it seem like you are fabricating it.
Not sure what Howard’s issue was with playing in Tampa, but good job by the Bolts for getting a good return for him.
He wanted a clearer path to NHL time than they could offer. He also wanted to sign his ELC and have it kick in immediately, but they didn’t have the cap space nor someone they were willing to send to the AHL to accommodate his request.
The Lightning didn’t have the money to sign Howard, And he felt slighted.
The lightning are smart. Good riddance. Howard is so tone deaf its laughable. Leading into Hobey baker, everyone lauded his competitiveness, then ironically, as reported by Brisbois, Howard liked the idea of choosing his path….which is of course…the path of least resistance. So much for competitiveness.
His crap would not mesh well in the Lightning locker room. The guy pouts cuz he can not burn NHL first year and jump in the line up down the stretch. Everyone but Hedman and Vasi cut their teeth in the AHL, including Cooper.
Anyways, great job getting some ROI on the trade.
Howard NHL ready, but I think O’Reilly may be better long term. Good payoff for both teams
Rough day for MSU. Lose McKenna to Penn State and then lose their only point producer on the roster to Edmonton. Too funny.
Nice upgrade for Edmonton. And all things considered it’s a good return for Tampa. I’d rather have Howard but O’Reilly is a better option than the comp pick they would have received.
@jdgoat – It’s actually a fair trade overall. Both 1st round prospects. Howard is NHL ready (he’s 2 years older) but a lot of scouts in the league believe O’Reilly has the higher ceiling as a two-way player. No clue how things turn out in the future but there is a potential outcome where O’Reilly could end being the better overall player especially if Howard doesn’t improve defensively which is up to the player.
Howard is 21 and wants a chance to play. At least he’s got that now
Hmm so many in Vancouver especially nodding heads at SN650 pitch Canucks’ mantra that you don’t get anything good after the top-12, so sell sell sell. Smart teams know otherwise, and when they’re a non-playoff team they try their darndest to acquire more first rd picks… In past 6 years Vancouver has dealt 5 first rd picks looking for a quick fix. Look where they are still.
Good deal for the Bolts as they couldn’t afford Howard’s contract and they were able to get equal value for him while adding a good young player to a weak prospect pool.
Actually, they could have. The problem was Howard didn’t want to be assigned to Syracuse to start his professional career. He didn’t want to earn his spot but instead just be given it.
Also, it’s a “weak” prospect because of a lack of 1st rounders in it. The so-called “experts” only base the value of a team’s prospect pool on 1st rounders. Tampa has proven a team doesn’t necessarily need 1st round picks since the majority of their top guys are 2nd rounders or later with some being undrafted. Tampa has only had 4 successful 1st round picks in their history (Vinny, Stammer, Heddy and Vasy). Tampa has arguably one of, if not, the best development system in the NHL & their history makes a strong case for that claim.
It had nothing to do with the Cap. It’s an entry Level
Contract. The Oilers are up against the Cap just like the Bolts. The Bolts could’ve afforded an Entry Level Contract just like the Oilers did.
After his Mich St Season finished up Howard wanted to play for Tampa last year and JBB and Cooper wanted him to go to Syracuse. So he got pissed and wanted out. Both strong prospects. O’Reilly actually fits the Bolts type of two way player like Cirelli. So it works out for both teams.
Win win imo. Tampa gets a nice player they can develop while they have plenty of center depth. Edmonton gets a cheap player with tons of upside that can contribute immediately.
Surprised the Redwings weren’t in on this given their other talented Michigan State prospects. Wings don’t seem to be getting their foot in the door this off season
I can also understand the logic of preferring to trade outside the conference instead of within your division, unless Detroit was offering something like MBN.
I will provide the AI answer on Howard.
He did not sign because:
1. The Lightning did not have cap space the final month of season. They could have made it work with 2 games remaining. However, to compound that the lightning were still battling for playoff positioning up until the last few games of the season and were not going to force Howard into the lineup and burn his first year of contract for 2 games.
2. The Lightning notified Howard that there was a good chance he would spend time in Syracuse honing his craft next year. The lighting are deep up front and they do not just promise spots on the roster.
3. At that point, it appears that Howard sought to push for an easier path to an NHL roster and declined to sign the standard NHL entry level contract, by declaring he would go back to college.
4. The Lightning, who never panic, hold his rights until August of 2026, where worst case Howard becomes a UFA and they receive a 2nd round pick as compensation.
5. They shopped his rights for a fair return as Howard is close to NHL ready by all assessment. The GM had said after the draft, that teams Howard did not prefer to go to, offered fair return, while others he would go to, did not.
6. It was only a matter of time before someone gave up an equivalent prospect to get Howard now and in their plans for next season. Enter the Oiler.
Nobody frustrated with Howard’s decision to prefer to play elsewhere denies him his right to do so. A few other College guys have made the same play over the past few years, that is their right. It is frustrating for a team who invests a lot into the success and development of the player and by extension as a fan.
The decision is a ballsy move, as it adds pressure and brings a spotlight on a young player just trying to make his way.
The college loophole does expose the vulnerability of having a prospect choose the college route. The longer they stay in college, the more leverage they can get. But there is always a risk of injury, which might prevent them from ever signing a pro contract. Players in college can now receive money, I would guess someone like Howard would command 100k plus.
Anyway, this thing is finally done and both teams can move on.