Edmonton Oilers accused of sabotaging future by dumping Sam O'Reilly for 'overhyped' Isaac Howard
The Edmonton Oilers are done waiting. After two gut-wrenching Stanley Cup Final losses, the franchise has made it clear they're pushing all their chips in for a win-now run—starting with the controversial acquisition of college star Isaac Howard.
The trade, which sent top prospect Sam O'Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has ignited a passionate divide among fans and analysts alike.
Edmonton bets on Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard to deliver immediate impact
Howard, the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner, lit up the NCAA last season with 52 points in 37 games for Michigan State. Yet for the 21-year-old forward, individual accolades weren't the priority. 'I want to win a national championship. I didn't play to win a Hobey,' he told NHL.com. That drive may have been exactly what the Oilers needed to see.
— frank_seravalli (@frank_seravalli)
NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that Edmonton believes Howard is ready to make their opening night lineup, calling the move 'fascinating.'
And that's where things get complicated.
Divided fan reactions: was O'Reilly the safer long-term bet?
While Howard's credentials are impressive, so were O'Reilly's. The 19-year-old center, drafted 32nd overall by Edmonton in 2024, racked up 71 points in the OHL with the London Knights. Some fans questioned the logic of trading a right-shooting center over a smaller winger. 'O'Reilly could have been our Lundell,' one Oilers supporter argued, referencing Florida Panthers standout Anton Lundell. 'Howard? Don't we already have a Savoie?'
Indeed, comparisons to Matthew Savoie—another undersized, offensive winger the Oilers traded for last year—are already surfacing, along with concerns that Howard could land in the AHL 'by game 10.'
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Desperation or strategy? The high-stakes gamble to end the drought
With Connor McDavid,
Leon Draisaitl
, and Evan Bouchard in their primes, the Oilers know their Cup window is now. Cap constraints have forced Edmonton into risky moves, and this latest trade reflects the franchise's urgency.
'Neither guy has proven anything,' one skeptical fan noted, 'but I'd rather take the guy who plays C, shoots right, and is over 6 feet.'
Also Read:
Toronto Maple Leafs accused of downgrading as Nino Niederreiter pitched as Mitch Marner's replacement
Still, as Seravalli noted, Howard's NHL readiness might tip the scales. Only time will tell if this bet pays off—or if it's just another desperate swing from a team still chasing glory.
Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
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