Edmonton Oilers & Tampa Bay Lightning Emerging as Trade Partners

Saturday, June 28, 2025 ,

The Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning have engaged in trade talks, which could result in disgruntled prospect Isaac Howard being shipped to Edmonton.

Hockey insider Frank Seravalli has had Howard on his trade targets list for quite some time now, as talks have advanced of late:

15. Rights to Isaac Howard
Left Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 21
Stats: 37 GP, 26 G, 26 A, 52 Pts (NCAA)
Contract: None
Scoop: The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner as top player in college hockey and the Lightning haven’t seen eye-to-eye, with both sides now acknowledging this is likely to end in a trade. Howard was drafted 31st overall in 2022. That means the clock is ticking on his rights being held exclusively by Tampa Bay, until Aug. 15, 2026. The Bolts will want to move him this summer before entering the final year of that exclusivity, when his rights potentially become less valuable as he’s months away from total free agency with the ability to sign anywhere.

The Oilers are trying to revamp the potential of their roster, as they have limited high-end prospects and want to find ways to be more efficient with their cap space. They are also in the market for a goaltender, and have been linked to Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson.

Keep an eye on these two teams, it sounds like a deal could be coming in the next 48 hours.

Photo credit: © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 

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