Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning Announce Swap of Top Prospects

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers shook up their respective prospect pools with a major trade on Tuesday.

The rare mid-July swap of top prospects will see the Oilers send 2024 first-round pick (No. 32 overall) Sam O’Reilly to the Lightning in exchange for 2022 first-round pick (No. 31 overall) and 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard.

O’Reilly, who was Edmonton’s No. 2-ranked prospect according to The Athletic, notched 28 goals and 71 points in 62 OHL games last season.

The 19-year-old center signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Oilers last October but returned to juniors to win his second straight Robertson Cup and a Memorial Cup with the London Knights.