After weeks of hypothesis, the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning have completed a trade. The Lightning have traded ahead Isaac Howard to the Oilers in change for ahead Sam O’Reilly. The Oilers additionally signed Howard to a three-year, entry-level contract.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
The #Oilers have acquired ahead Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning in change for ahead Sam O’Reilly. We’ve additionally signed Howard to a three-year entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/k3UHkpv6Ik
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 9, 2025
Howard, who’s 21 years outdated, was drafted by the Lightning within the first spherical of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft at thirty first total after a powerful displaying with the U.S. Nationwide U18 Group, the place he scored 33 targets and added 49 assists for 82 factors via 60 video games. He would transfer to the NCAA the next season, the place he put up 17 factors in 35 video games earlier than transferring from the College of Minnesota-Duluth to Michigan State College. Over the previous two seasons, he has scored 34 targets and added 54 assists for 88 factors via 73 video games.
O’Reilly, who is nineteen years outdated, was drafted within the first spherical at thirty second total by the Oilers within the 2024 NHL Entry Draft after a powerful displaying with the London Knights within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights the place he had 56 factors in 68 video games. Final season with the Knights, he scored 28 targets and added 43 assists for 71 factors via 62 video games.
Howard will look to make his NHL debut subsequent season as a part of the Oilers, and time will inform how each of those prospects slot in with their new houses.
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