Oilers and Lightning Swap Top NHL Prospects

Edmonton Oilers receive: Winger Isaac Howard

Tampa Bay Lightning receive: Center Sam O’Reilly

Isaac Howard, the recent winner of the Hobey Baker Award for being the top player in college hockey, is known for his offensive skills and ability to create scoring opportunities. Despite his talent, Howard is not a large player and lacks high competitiveness for his size. He is expected to be a middle-six scoring winger in the NHL.

Sam O’Reilly, a key center for OHL London, is praised for his hard work, offensive contributions, and physical play. While he possesses good skating ability and vision, his puck skills are not considered exceptional. O’Reilly is currently projected to be a bottom-six forward but is expected to have more opportunities to showcase his abilities next season.

Although Howard is seen as having more offensive potential, his desire for immediate NHL play and public trade request limited Tampa Bay's bargaining power. The Lightning managed to secure a promising prospect in O’Reilly, who plays a more valuable position. Howard may join the Oilers in the NHL next season, while O’Reilly is likely to need more development time.

Photo credit: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images

Corey Pronman, the senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic and formerly with ESPN, provided insights on the trade. For more updates, follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman.