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Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Edmonton Oilers accused of sabotaging future by dumping Sam O'Reilly for 'overhyped' Isaac Howard
Oilers are making bold moves, acquiring college standout Isaac Howard in a trade (Getty Images) 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 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.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 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!
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Edmonton Oilers trade forward Sam O'Reilly for Tampa Bay Lightning forward Isaac Howard
(Image via Getty Images: Isaac Howard) The 21-year-old forward Isaac Howard shared with NHL Network, 'I want to win a national championship. I didn't play to win a Hobey. At the end of the day, I want to win a national championship. I think we are going to have the group to do it. It comes down to the tournament at the end of the year. We've just got to be ready and make sure we don't leave anything on the table.' The Edmonton Oilers were in the national championship. They went straight up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. But lost it to the Florida Panthers. Their zeal was recognized and matched by Howard. Otherwise, it was not so easy for him to choose from so many, many teams. On May 8, Tampa Bay GM had put forth his views on Isaac Howard's contract challenges. What did he say? Let's find out. Isaac Howard and Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois could not come to terms for a very long time On June 29, Tampa Bay Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley tweeted what Julien BriseBois, Tampa Bay GM, spoke about Isaac Howard and his contract challenges: 'I actually spoke with his agent yesterday prior to the opening of the draft. We don't have anything right now. It's tricky because the teams that are willing to offer me something that I think would be worthwhile for our organization that actually makes us better and kind of fits with the plan we have for our organization, they haven't been able to agree to a contract with Isaac and the teams that he feels he can get a deal done with have not been able to get a deal done with me. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 80~105만원까지 누구나 받을 수 있는 지원금~! 봉자인터넷 I don't know how long this is going to take. We're perfectly comfortable waiting until the end. We know, worst case, we're getting a second-round pick out of this. If I can do better, that would be optimal for me. It would be way better for Isaac Howard because he should turn pro. That's in his best interest for his career's development. We are working with them to try to get that done but, as of now, we have not been able to.' 'Damn this kid is a nightmare': Fans find ice hockey forward Isaac Howard to be an entitled brat When Tampa Bay Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley tweeted about Howard's contract challenges, X users commented on it with unanimous reactions. One X user wrote, 'This kid is really entitled.' Another said, 'Bro thinks he's the next Gretzky.' A third X user commented, 'Sounds like a bit of an entitled brat not getting what he wants. Teams offering what the Bolts are looking for but can't get the kid to an agreement, teams he wants to go to don't want him or again can't come to an agreement. Glad he's not going to be apart of the Bolts.' A fourth fan penned, 'The kid must think he is a big shot already and hasn't stepped on NHL ice. I'm glad this fn loser won't be on the Lightning. Let's not forget despite his HB award he lost.' A fifth fan chimed in, 'Damn this kid is a nightmare. Good luck to whatever team gets him.' Edmonton Oilers part ways with forward Sam O'Reilly for Tampa Bay Lightning forward Isaac Howard The Edmonton Oilers announced on Tuesday night that they have acquired 21-year-old forward Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for their forward Sam O'Reilly. Howard has skated in 37 games at Michigan State in 2024-2025. He accumulated 26 goals, 26 assists, and 52 points there. He went on to win a Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top player. Oilers said that Howard has agreed to a 3-year Entry Level Contract starting from the 2025-2026 NHL season. Tampa Bay picked Howard in the 2022 NHL Draft as their first-round 31st overall pick. Playing for them, Howard accumulated 34 goals, 54 assists, and 88 points in 73 games in two seasons. Also Read: Dallas Stars extend their longest-tenured captain Jamie Benn's stay by one year for $1 million | NHL News - Times of India Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NCAA Frozen Four: Predicting The Champions And Hobey Baker Winner
The final weekend of the NCAA men's hockey season has arrived. Let's predict each game. The Hockey News team members predicted who wins the Frozen Four and the Hobey Baker Award. There was quite a bit of alignment in the Hobey discussion, splitting the votes between two players, but the Frozen Four had some more diverse and interesting answers, with one team coming out on top. Here are our predictors: Ryan Kennedy, editor in chief Katie Gaus, Big Show host Eli Cloutier, The Hockey News NCAA Mathieu Sheridan, The Hockey News NCAA Michael Traikos, managing editor, digital media Jonathan Tovell, deputy managing editor, digital media Tony Ferrari, NHL draft and prospect analyst Let's start with the big individual award up for grabs. Finalists: Zeev Buium, Ryan Leonard, Isaac Howard Kennedy: Ryan Leonard, RW, Boston College Gaus: Ryan Leonard, RW, Boston College Cloutier: Zeev Buium, D, Univ. of Denver Sheridan: Ryan Leonard, RW, Boston College Traikos: Zeev Buium, D, Univ. of Denver Tovell: Zeev Buium, D, Univ. of Denver Ferrari: Zeev Buium, D, Univ. of Denver The votes were split evenly between Buium and Leonard before my vote broke the tie, giving Buium the edge at 4-3. Leonard was a force in college, and he's already made an impact at the NHL level with the Washington Capitals. His physicality, goal-scoring and relentless motor gave Boston College a chance in every game. He proved time and again that he was the driving force on BC's top line of Gabe Perreault (NYR) and James Hagens (2025 NHL draft), arguably the top line in the nation. Leonard could easily win the Hobey Baker, and it would shock no one. This race was that tight. With Buium, the fact that he once again led all defenders in scoring while rounding out the rest of his game even further was wildly impressive. His cerebral play with the puck and purposeful defensive decisions made him one of the best two-way players in college hockey. Buium is the best player on a team that could be headed for back-to-back title games and a chance to win back-to-back national titles. His ability to elevate his game in the biggest moments is also notable. Regardless of whether Buium or Leonard wins the award, it will go to a deserving player who dominated the NCAA. Although Michigan State forward Isaac Howard wasn't named among the predictions, his season with MSU was fantastic, and he should be a favorite next year as he returns to school for his final college season. NCAA Frozen Four Preview: Each Team's Outlook, Storylines And Key Players From Thursday to Saturday, the NCAA men's Frozen Four takes center stage in St. Louis. Friday, 5 p.m. ET Kennedy: Western Michigan Gaus: Univ. of Denver Cloutier: Western Michigan Sheridan: Univ. of Denver Traikos: Univ. of Denver Tovell: Univ. of Denver Ferrari: Univ. of Denver Western Michigan only received two votes, but this game is expected to be the closer matchup between the two Frozen Four games. Denver is the defending national champion, and it's going for three in four years, which would be historic in the NCAA. On the flip side, Western Michigan defeated Denver in the NCHC final in a dramatic third-period comeback that spurred on an overtime win. This game should have plenty of drama and tension between the two teams. While the staff leaned Denver here, it should be a wicked matchup, nonetheless. Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET Kennedy: Boston University Gaus: Boston University Cloutier: Boston University Sheridan: Boston University Traikos: Boston University Tovell: Boston University Ferrari: Boston University The only unanimous answer in the poll predicts Boston University will end Penn State's Cinderella run. BU has been to three-straight Frozen Fours, and this would be the first time it reaches the final in that span. BU has been a power all year, but its play in the second half of the season was particularly strong. They found a netminder in Mikhail Yegorov (NJD), which has allowed them to unleash their offensive skill. Penn State has been a surprisingly strong team in the Big-10 all season, finding a way to win big games all year. Can they do it one more time against one of the nation's top teams? According to our predictors, no. With that said, this game will probably be much closer than the picks would appear, and it would be exciting to see Penn State come away with the win. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET Kennedy: Western Michigan beats Boston Univ. Gaus: Denver beats Boston Univ. Cloutier: Boston Univ. beats Western Michigan Sheridan: Denver beats Boston Univ. Traikos: Denver beats Boston Univ. Tovell: Boston Univ. beats Denver Ferrari: Denver beats Boston Univ. The University of Denver took four of the seven votes for the final, while Boston University got two. THN's editor in chief, Ryan Kennedy, was the only one to take Western Michigan to take home the title. Denver winning the title would be historic in that players like Jack Devine (FLA), Connor Caponi and Matt Davis would win their third national title in four years. A Boston University win would break its tie for the fifth most all-time championships with rival Boston College, giving the Terriers six in school history. Western Michigan's (and Penn State's) win would be the first in school history. The Frozen Four will be full of excellent moments. The team that wins the championship this weekend will have earned it fully. There are excellent stories for each of these squads. Be sure to check out the action and follow the Frozen Four, kicking off on Thursday and finishing with the title game on Saturday. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
Boston Globe
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
BC's Ryan Leonard named Hobey Baker finalist, Hockey East player of the year
Joining Leonard is Holy Cross senior Liam McLinskey, who was named a finalist for the second consecutive year. The forward was awarded the Atlantic Hockey player of the year after leading the league in scoring with 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists). Advertisement That Leonard was the only finalist from Hockey East in a year where the league already has six teams in the 16-team field for NCAA tournament was curious. Last year saw four players reach the top 10: Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson from Boston University, and Cutter Gauthier and Will Smith from Boston College. Notable snubs included UMass junior Cole O'Hara, who is tied for third nationally in points with McLinskey at 51 (22 goals, 29 assists), and is fourth in points per game at 1.34, as is BC forward Gabe Perrault (15 goals, 32 assists in 35 games). Fowler, Boija named Richter finalists Boston College's Jacob Fowler certainly merited consideration for the Hobey, but he and Maine's Albin Boija made the list of the final four candidates for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey. They are joined by Michigan State sophomore Trey Augustine and Minnesota State junior Alex Tracy. Fowler was named the Hockey East goalie of the year earlier this week. The sophomore sits second nationally in goals against average (1.64) and shutouts (7), and third in save percentage (.940) and wins (24). He led Hockey East in all four categories. This is the second consecutive year he was named a finalist, having finished runner up as a freshman. Advertisement Boija is fourth overall in the country with a 1.75 goals against average. His .930 save percentage is the ninth-best mark overall but that number ranks fourth among goaltenders who have played more than 30 games. He is just the ninth goaltender nationally over the last 10 seasons to post an overall goals against average of 1.75 or below in their first 34 games played in a season and since the start of the 2002-03 season, is only the third Hockey East goaltender to do so. His 1.77 goals against in Hockey East games this year is the best mark by a league goaltender who played at least 23 conference games since 2002-03. The sophomore is looking to become the second Maine netminder to win the award and the first since Jeremy Swayman in 2020. The list of Hobey Baker finalists will be whittled down to three and will be announced on April 3. The winners of both the Hobey and Richter awards will be announced on April 11 in St. Louis at the Frozen Four. Follow Andrew Mahoney
