Hobey Baker Winner Howard Shocker: Lightning Send Star to Oilers in Unexpected Trade Rift
Isaac Howard, fresh off snagging the 2025 Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s hockey player, has taken an unexpected detour from his collegiate path. The Tampa Bay Lightning just flipped the script, sending this promising 21-year-old forward to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Sam O’Reilly. Talk about shaking things up! Howard wasted no time signing a three-year, entry-level deal with Edmonton, marking a new chapter after a standout season tallying 52 points with Michigan State – an impressive feat following his start at Minnesota Duluth. Interestingly, despite the trade, Howard once expressed a strong desire to return for his senior year, with his eyes set firmly on a national title rather than individual accolades. On the flip side, O’Reilly, just 19, comes packing 71 points from his time with the OHL’s London Knights, recently drafted by Edmonton as their first-round pick in 2024. This swap isn’t just a trade—it’s a strategic move loaded with potential and promise, stirring the pot for what’s next in pro hockey.
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