The Edmonton Oilers’ difficult 2026 offseason has been dealt another painful blow, as a past trade decision continues to draw unwanted attention.
Coming off a disappointing first-round playoff exit and facing ongoing questions about Connor McDavid’s future, Edmonton is once again being reminded of a controversial move that now appears even more costly. This time, the criticism came publicly from a former NHL defenseman who didn’t hesitate to take a shot at the Oilers’ front office.
Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Takes Aim at Oilers’ Trade
The criticism came after a huge weekend for Sam O’Reilly. Drafted 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2024, O’Reilly has quickly become one of junior hockey’s top players.
On Sunday, he finished with a goal and three assists in the Memorial Cup final, helping the Kitchener Rangers earn a dominant 6-2 win over the Everett Silvertips.
O’Reilly finished his historic season with three goals and five assists in four Memorial Cup games, earning tournament MVP honors, and also completing a rare triple crown of regular-season MVP, playoff MVP, and Memorial Cup MVP.
Former Maple Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo took the opportunity to take a shot at Edmonton’s front office. He sarcastically posted: “Gonna look great as an Oiler.”
The comment struck a nerve because of the trade that sent O’Reilly away.
During the 2025 offseason, the Oilers made a bold and controversial move by trading O’Reilly’s rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Isaac Howard.
At the time, Edmonton viewed Howard as a player who could contribute to the NHL roster more quickly. However, a year later, the trade is being viewed much differently.
While O’Reilly has blossomed into one of hockey’s most promising prospects and appears to have a bright future with Tampa Bay, Howard has struggled to find consistent success in Edmonton. He recorded just five points in 29 games this season, leading many to wonder if the Oilers moved on from O’Reilly too soon.
O’Reilly Reflects on Historic Season
Following the Memorial Cup victory, O’Reilly admitted the magnitude of his accomplishments still hasn’t fully sunk in. “Pretty great. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s awesome. It’s a pretty crazy junior career. If you told me before coming in as a junior, I wouldn’t believe it,” O’Reilly said.
“I’ve just been lucky to be a part of the great teams I’ve been on.”
He also credited his teammates for helping him reach such a rare milestone. “I’m really grateful. I could have gone to a lot of guys, so I’m just really grateful to be here,” he added.
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For an Oilers team desperate for affordable young talent in a salary cap crunch, watching a traded prospect become a dominant OHL MVP is a painful reminder of a costly mistake. Colaiacovo made sure that blunder won’t be forgotten.
