Just last week, Isaac Howard was trying to get Gavin McKenna to be his teammate at Michigan State University.
Everything changed Tuesday.
Hours after McKenna made his commitment to Penn State, Howard was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner — given to the NCAA men’s hockey player of the year — also signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Oilers.
“I’m super psyched,” Howard, 21, said on a Zoom press conference with reporters Wednesday. “It’s such an unreal opportunity. I’m grateful Tampa was able to make this done. I can’t wait to get started. Definitely such a cool place. Couldn’t be happier.”
A first-round pick of the Lightning (31st overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, Howard could not come to contract terms with Tampa and was preparing to return for his senior season at Michigan State before the trade.
The Oilers sent Tampa their own late-first-round prospect, Sam O’Reilly (32nd overall last year), to acquire the Wisconsin native.
Howard broke out in his third NCAA season, notching 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games. That was well up from his 8-28-36 line the previous year.
The Oilers, Howard said, were his first choice for an NHL landing spot.
“Super cool moment,” he said. “I met with Edmonton and this was probably the spot I wanted to go. Just checks all my boxes. I knew somehow if it could happen, I would absolutely love it.”
Howard said he watched every Oilers playoff game during their runs to the Stanley Cup Final the past two years. He is savouring the chance to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“I think that’s an unreal opportunity,” he said. “I don’t think you can get any better than that. Those are two of the best players in the world — could be the two best. It’s pretty incredible. I can’t wait to share the ice with those guys (and) pick their brain.”
Howard said he sat down for lunch with McKenna last week at Michigan State as the projected No. 1-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft was finalizing his playing decision for next season.
The Whitehorse native had Michigan State and Penn State as his finalists before settling on the latter, opting to leave the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
“Obviously, I think he should have went here in my opinion,” Howard said with a smile. “Still cool nonetheless for the Big Ten and college hockey. I let him know how much I love this place and in my opinion there’s no better spot.”
