TAMPA — The Lightning moved disgruntled former first-round pick Isaac Howard Tuesday night, sending his rights to the Oilers for Edmonton’s first-round pick in last year’s draft.

The Lightning will acquire 19-year-old center Sam O’Reilly, who was the 32nd overall pick in 2024.

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The deal severs ties with Howard, whose relationship with the Lightning soured this summer when he went unsigned following a stellar season at Michigan State in which he led Division I hockey in points per game and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey.

Howard, 21, was viewed as one of the Lightning’s top prospects until a few months ago. He was the organization’s only first-round pick over the past six years, as BriseBois dealt the others away at the trade deadline to boost the NHL club.

Howard made a big impression on the first day of the 2022 draft, wearing a white suit with a blue turtleneck and a gaudy belt buckle with an American flag on it and declaring himself the “best-looking guy here” after being selected 31st overall by the Lightning.

He had a similar flair for the dramatic on the ice, leading Team USA to the world juniors championship in 2024 and scoring the winning goal in overtime to give Michigan State the Big Ten title this season. He celebrated goals by going down to one knee and passing his glove over his helmet as if running his hand through his hair.

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But something happened at the end of his college season. Howard said on the Spittin’ Chiclets Game Notes podcast that he and the Lightning didn’t see eye-to-eye. At his end-of-season availability, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said the team would not be signing Howard, as he wanted to choose the team he plays for.

That sent Tampa Bay looking for a trade to get something better than the second-round compensatory pick it would receive if Howard went unsigned when his draft rights expired in August 2026. Last week, BriseBois said the Lightning were working to trade Howard’s rights before the draft, but the GM was struggling to find a fit that met the Lightning’s demands and a team Howard would be willing to play for.

In Edmonton, Howard will play with two of the game’s top players in forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons, losing to the Florida Panthers.

O’Reilly comes to the Lightning already signed to an entry-level deal through the 2027-28 seasons.

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He’s regarded as a strong two-way player who projects to be a capable third-line center who can kill penalties. His plus-56 last season at London and plus-86 over his past two seasons show he is capable of playing a strong 200-foot game.

O’Reilly is coming off a 28-goal, 71-point year in 62 games in his second season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

O’Reilly helped lead London to back-to-back Ontario Hockey League titles and the Memorial Cup this past season. He had seven goals and 22 points in 17 playoff games.

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