The Edmonton Oilers made a bold move in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, selecting Sam O’Reilly with the 32nd overall pick—a choice that initially seemed like a no-brainer. But here’s where it gets controversial: just one year later, they traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Isaac Howard, leaving many fans and analysts scratching their heads. Was this a smart play for the future, or a missed opportunity that could haunt them? Let’s dive in.
O’Reilly’s resume speaks for itself. In his draft year, he lit up the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 20 goals and 56 points in 68 games for the London Knights. He followed that up with an even more impressive 28 goals and 71 points in 62 games, capping off the season with a Memorial Cup Championship. Since the trade, he’s continued to dominate, tallying 17 goals and 40 points in just 37 games split between the Knights and the Kitchener Rangers. Oh, and did we mention he helped Team Canada secure a bronze medal at the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship? This kid is the real deal.
And this is the part most people miss: The Oilers traded a future first-round pick to draft O’Reilly, only to ship him off a year later. Yes, Howard is NHL-ready now, but at 21, he’s already closer to his ceiling. O’Reilly, on the other hand, is just 19 and has the potential to be a more complete, two-way player. While the Oilers were right to prioritize their win-now window, giving up on a prospect of O’Reilly’s caliber feels shortsighted. Could they have kept him and let him develop into the perfect third-line center they’ve been searching for?
O’Reilly checks all the boxes for Edmonton. He’s a right-shot, defensively responsible center with a physical edge—exactly what the Oilers’ bottom six has been missing. At 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, he’s versatile enough to be a net-front presence on the power play or a reliable penalty killer. Head coach Kris Knoblauch would love a player like that, especially given the team’s struggles to find consistency in their bottom six. Remember Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson? They were brought in to bolster the top six but ended up miscast in the bottom six, where their lack of versatility became a liability. O’Reilly, however, would thrive in that role, knowing exactly what’s expected of him.
Now, let’s talk about Howard. There’s no denying his elite skill—his shot alone is a weapon. But is he the right fit for this Oilers team? His one-dimensional game relies heavily on scoring, and if he’s not lighting the lamp, his impact is limited. To succeed in Edmonton, he’ll need to play alongside stars like Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, which isn’t guaranteed. His defensive game also needs work, and with the Oilers’ bottom six still searching for an identity, that could be a problem. If Howard can’t adapt, this trade might not age well.
Here’s the million-dollar question: Did the Oilers make a mistake trading O’Reilly for Howard? While Howard is the better player today, will he still be in a few years? O’Reilly’s upside as a complete, versatile center could have been a long-term solution for Edmonton’s bottom-six woes. Instead, they’ve bet on Howard’s immediate impact, but at what cost?
What do you think? Was trading O’Reilly a smart move, or will the Oilers live to regret it? Let us know in the comments below, and keep following The Hockey Writers for more NHL insights throughout the season!
