Lightning trade Isaac Howard to Oilers for Sam O’Reilly

A notable move involving one of the best players in college hockey.

On Tuesday night, the Edmonton Oilers acquired the signing rights of forward Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning. In return, the Lightning received prospect Sam O’Reilly.

As a result of the trade, the Oilers signed Howard to a three-year, entry-level contract.

It’s a notable exchange as headlines were made when the Lightning and Howard were unable to come to terms on an ELC in April, shortly after Michigan State’s season ended. After a lengthy and drawn-out negotiation, Howard elected to return to play one more year with the Spartans. However, with a new contract under his belt, it looks like he’ll be leaving East Lansing after all.

According to reports, the Lightning were willing to bring Howard on board this spring, but he would’ve been assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Not long after the rival Florida Panthers eliminated Tampa in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, general manager Julien BriseBois stated that it would be “unlikely that we will sign him” to a contract.

Howard’s stock is as high as it could be after an incredible season with MSU. In 37 games, the Hudson, Wisconsin native scored 26 goals and 52 points, finishing second among Big Ten skaters in scoring behind Penn State forward Aiden Fink. Howard ended up fifth in the nation in scoring, trailing Denver’s Jack Devine, who posted 52 points. It led Howard to become the third Spartan to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the best player in NCAA hockey.

During his time with Michigan State, Howard helped the surging program win back-to-back Big Ten Regular Season and Conference Championships. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to national success, as the Spartans were knocked out during regionals in each of the past two seasons.

In his three years of college hockey, which included one season at Minnesota Duluth, Howard scored 50 goals and 65 assists for 105 points in 108 games. Along with former MSU teammate and Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine, he helped the United States win gold at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Howard was also a member of the American squad that took home the gold at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Howard was taken by Tampa in the first round, 31st overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Lost in this deal is O’Reilly, a very talented center for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. The Toronto native was originally picked in the first round, 32nd overall, by the Oilers in the 2024 draft, having signed his ELC last October. Across two full seasons with the Knights, O’Reilly has shown he can be a reliable asset in his own zone, while also being able to put the puck in the back of the net when called upon.

He’s coming off a career season with the Knights, setting career highs in goals (28), assists (43) and points (71) in 62 regular-season games. He added another 22 points in the playoffs, helping London win a second straight OHL Championship. O’Reilly added another five points at the Memorial Cup, helping the Knights win the CHL title for the third time in franchise history.

In 135 regular-season affairs with the Knights, O’Reilly has potted 48 goals and 79 assists for 127 points, including 34 points in 36 postseason games.