The Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers executed a significant trade on Tuesday, swapping top prospects in a rare mid-July move. The Oilers traded 2024 first-round pick Sam O'Reilly, who tallied 28 goals and 71 points in 62 OHL games last season, for 2022 first-round pick Isaac Howard, who was recently awarded the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA player. Howard, previously at Michigan State, scored 26 goals and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

The Oilers are optimistic about Howard's immediate impact, as he is expected to sign and join their lineup for the upcoming season. NHL analyst Frank Seravalli noted that scouts have mixed opinions on the trade's long-term outcomes, with some favoring O'Reilly as the better prospect overall. Corey Pronman of The Athletic assigned a B+ grade to the Oilers and a B- to the Lightning, citing Howard's offensive potential but acknowledging the trade's unusual leverage dynamics.