Latest news with #JulienBriseBois
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lightning trade top prospect Isaac Howard to Oilers
TAMPA — The Lightning moved disgruntled top prospect Isaac Howard Tuesday night, sending his rights to the Edmonton Oilers in a swap of former first-round picks. Tampa Bay acquired 19-year-old center Sam O'Reilly, who was the 32nd overall pick in 2024. Advertisement The deal severed the Lightning's ties with Howard, whose relationship with the team soured this summer when he went unsigned following a stellar junior season at Michigan State. Howard led Division I players in points per game and won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player. Upon acquiring Howard, the Oilers signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. As recently as a few months ago, Howard, 21, was viewed as one of the Lightning's top prospects. He was the organization's only first-round pick from the past six drafts, as Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois dealt the others away at the trade deadline to boost the NHL club. Howard didn't take long to make an impression after the Lightning chose him with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 draft, walking up to the podium wearing a white suit, blue turtleneck and oversized belt buckle with an American flag on it. Advertisement 'I'm the best looking guy here, and I dressed the best, so dress to impress,' he told ESPN. Howard 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 past season. He celebrated goals by dropping to one knee and passing his glove over his helmet as if running his hand through his hair. But something went wrong following his college season. Howard said on the Spittin' Chiclets Game Notes podcast in April that he and the Lightning didn't see eye-to-eye. At his end-of-season availability, 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 have received had Howard gone 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 play for. Advertisement 'We don't have anything right now,' BriseBois said then. 'It's tricky, because the teams that are willing to offer me something that I would think would be worthwhile for our organization and actually makes us better and 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.' 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 season. Listed at 6-feet-1, 190 pounds, he is considered a strong two-way player who projects as a capable third-line — or potentially second-line — center who can kill penalties and be strong in the faceoff circle. His plus-88 rating over the past two seasons with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, including plus-56 this past season, show he is capable of playing a strong 200-foot game. Advertisement O'Reilly compiled 28 goals and 71 points in 62 games in his second full season with London — a 15-point improvement over the previous season — on a loaded squad that included 15 drafted players and 10 already signed to entry-level deals. O'Reilly helped the Knights to back-to-back OHL titles and the Memorial Cup this past season. He had seven goals and 22 points, and was plus-24 in 17 OHL playoff games. He added two goals and five points in five Memorial Cup games, including the primary assist on the winning goal in the championship game against Medicine Hat. • • • Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida. Advertisement Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports. Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL News: Lightning Terminating Forward's Contract
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning have placed forward Conor Sheary on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. In addition, Friedman noted that Sheary asked to have his contract terminated so he can look for another opportunity to play in the NHL again. Sheary, 33, was entering the final season of the three-year, $6 million contract he signed with the Lightning during the 2023 NHL off-season. Advertisement Sheary played in just five games for the Lightning this season, where he had zero points, four penalty minutes, and a minus-4 rating. He spent the bulk of the campaign in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 20 goals, 61 points, and a plus-15 rating in 59 games. Given Sheary's past success, there certainly could be a team out there willing to take a shot on him with a one-year, prove-it deal in free agency. In 62 games over two seasons with the Lightning, Sheary recorded four goals, 11 assists, 15 points, and a minus-5 rating. Julien BriseBois Expects 3 Lightning Pending UFAs To Hit Market Julien BriseBois Expects 3 Lightning Pending UFAs To Hit Market While speaking to reporters, including The Hockey News' Diandra Loux, Advertisement Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois shared that he expects pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) Nick Perbix, Cam Atkinson, and Luke Glendening to hit the market. Photo Credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lightning still seeking trade partner for top prospect Isaac Howard
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois confirmed at the end of the 2024-25 season that former first-round pick, Isaac Howard is unlikely to sign with the organization. Following the NHL Draft on Saturday, BriseBois confirmed trade talks are still ongoing, but they've yet to reach a deal that could work for both sides. '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 fit with the plan we have for our organization.. they haven't been able to agree to a contract with Isaac,' said BriseBois. 'The teams that he feels he can get a deal done with, have not been able to get a deal done with me.' Advertisement The Lightning were in contact with Howard's agent as recent as Friday before the draft began. While there was hope heading into the weekend that the Lightning could find an opportunity to trade Howard's rights, nothing ultimately developed. Under the NHL and NHLPA CBA, teams hold the rights to drafted NCAA prospects for four seasons. That means if the Lightning are not able to find a trade partner by Aug. 15, 2026, Howard will become an unrestricted free agent. If he does become an unrestricted free agent, the Bolts will only receive a second-round compensation pick in 2027. Since drafting Howard in the first round in 2022, the Lightning have invested in his development, as they do with all their prospects. Ideally, they're hoping for a return greater than just a second-round pick. 'I don't know how long this is going to take. We're perfectly comfortable waiting until the end,' said BriseBois. Advertisement '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.' Photo Credit: © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
New York Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysis
The Tampa Bay Lightning have seven picks in the 2025 NHL Draft: Nos. 56, 127, 151, 193, 206, 212, 215. Here's what to expect. Tampa Bay has had so few draft picks in recent years that it's hard to pinpoint one exact need because its system needs everything. The Lightning have at least some decent young talent coming at forward, but they have almost nothing coming on defense. In recent mock drafts, Corey Pronman has projected the following picks: 56. Jack Ivankovic, G 128. Linus Funck, D 151. Nicholas Sykora, LW 193. Ryan Cameron, G 206. Jett Lajoie, RW 212. Alexandre Carbonneau, D 215. Philippe Veilleux, LW (Photo of Lightning GM Julien BriseBois: Dave Sandford / NHLI via Getty Images)
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Tampa Bay Lightning signs Yanni Gourde to a 6-year contract worth nearly $14M
Article content Yanni Gourde never really wanted to leave the Tampa Bay Lightning after helping them win the Stanley Cup. Now he might be able to finish out his time in the NHL with them. Article content Article content Gourde signed a six-year deal Monday worth just under $14 million, keeping him under contract through the 2030-31 season at a salary cap hit of $2.33 million. Article content 'I wanted to stay in Tampa for a long time,' Gourde said on a video call with reporters. 'That was the biggest thing for me was getting some term and be able to stay and play in Tampa for the remaining years of my career. That was the biggest part. I'm so excited that we could make this happen.' Article content Gourde was a big part of Tampa Bay winning back-to-back titles in 2020 and '21. Seattle took Gourde in the expansion draft that summer coming off the second Cup run, and he played three-plus seasons for the Kraken. Article content The Lightning reacquired the 33-year-old center ahead of the trade deadline in March. General manager Julien BriseBois at the time expressed confidence in getting Gourde signed after sending a couple of conditional first-round picks and more to Seattle for him and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Article content 'I was hoping it would be a possibility, but you never know until the negotiation starts,' Gourde said. 'Obviously Tampa's always been at the top of my list when I was in Seattle if I were to get traded again or go somewhere else or sign as a free agent. When March came and I was traded here, I was so excited to come back.' Article content Gourde missed several weeks during this past regular season with a sports hernia and subsequent surgery. He also broke a finger in Tampa Bay's first-round loss to defending champion Florida, and despite that early exit believes the team's Stanley Cup window is wide open. Article content 'Obviously a disappointing end of the season in the first round, but this group was really good and I really believe in this group,' Gourde said. 'The biggest aspect is just trying to find a way to win, find a way to perform, find a way to be proud to wear that Tampa Bay Lightning jersey. Obviously the ultimate goal is to win a championship.' Article content
