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Sam O'Reilly

Lightning Acquire Sam O’Reilly From Oilers For Isaac Howard

at CDT | by 35 Comments

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.

Oilers Sign Sam O’Reilly To Entry-Level Deal

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The Oilers have signed 2024 first-round pick Sam O’Reilly to a three-year, entry-level contract, per a team release. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

A likely signing bonus in the deal this season will be a nice gift for O’Reilly, who stuck around on the training camp roster longer than most anticipated. The Oilers, who had traded away their first-round pick to the Ducks in last season’s Adam Henrique trade, swung a deal with the Flyers on draft day to move back into the first round at No. 32 overall.

Edmonton then proceeded to make O’Reilly, who doesn’t turn 19 until March, the last pick of the round. The 6’1″ center’s offensive totals didn’t jump off the page in his draft year on a stacked OHL London team, and they’re also not expected to if he cracks the NHL. He projects as a physical depth piece with strong defensive instincts, making him extremely projectable as the Oilers’ No. 3 or No. 4 center in a few years.

A Toronto native, O’Reilly has been slightly underwhelming out of the gate with London this season – as have most of his teammates. However, his two goals and three assists for five points in seven games are only tied for ninth on the team, and his -3 rating is tied for third-worst. It’s still far too early in his post-draft campaign to write him off, though. Allan Mitchell of The Athletic ranked O’Reilly as the No. 2 prospect in the Edmonton pipeline and their best up-and-coming forward piece over the summer. However, he’s been unseated from that role after they acquired 2022 ninth-overall pick Matthew Savoie from the Sabres.

O’Reilly is unlikely to play 10 NHL games this season, so expect his ELC to slide to the 2025-26 season. If he fails to hit 10 NHL GP next year, too, it’s eligible to slide again to 2026-27.

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