Oilers Trade for Hobey Baker Winner

The Hobey Baker Award is given to the top NCAA men's hockey player each year. It is named for Hobey Baker, a Princeton alum considered "one of the best early American hockey players." Baker served in World War I, but was killed in a plane crash in 1918. 

The Edmonton Oilers just acquired Isaac Howard, the 2025 Hobey Baker Award Winner, from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for fellow prospect Sam O'Reilly. It got me wondering how often these top collegiate hockey players pan out. Let's look at the last 20 just for fun.

2006 - Matt Carle (University of Denver) - Carle made his NHL debut with the Sharks during the 2005-06 season. He played 730 NHL games in his career over 12 seasons. He was a member of the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2006-07 when he posted career highs in goals (11) and points (42). 

2007 - Ryan Duncan (University of North Dakota) - Despite winning the Hobey Baker Award, Duncan wasn't drafted. While he had a couple stints in the AHL with Bridgeport and Portland, most of his pro career was spent overseas with Red Bull Salzburg and EHC München. 

2008 - Kevin Porter (University of Michigan) - Porter played 249 NHL games over parts of 8 seasons with the Coyotes, Avalanche, Sabres and Penguins. His best season was the 2010-11 campaign when he tallied 14 goals and 11 assists for Colorado over 74 games. He won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2016.

2009 - Matt Gilroy (Boston University) - Gilroy was undrafted but signed a professional contract with the New York Rangers after his four years at BU. He played 225 NHL games before moving overseas to play in Russia, Finland and Switzerland. He represented the US during the 2018 Winter Olympics.

2010 - Blake Geoffrion (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - Geoffrion's career was cut short by injury (suffered a depressed skull fracture) in 2013. He played just 55 NHL games for the Predators and Canadiens. 

2011 - Andy Miele (Miami University) - After going undrafted, the 5'7" Miele signed a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2011. He would play only 15 NHL games in his career and went on to play professionally in Sweden, Russia, Switzerland and Germany (where he is still under contract with Grizzlys Wolfsburg). He was a member of the 2022 US Olympic Team. 

2012 - Jack Connolly (University of Minnesota-Duluth) - Connolly helped Duluth to a national championship in 2011 (their first ever) and was a three-time All American. Undrafted, Connolly played in Sweden until 2024 tallying 85 goals over 545 games.

2013 - Drew LeBlanc (St. Cloud State) - LeBlanc was undrafted, but signed an entry level contract with the Blackhawks in 2013. He played only two NHL games in the 2012-13 season and eventually went overseas to play in Germany where he logged 430 appearances and notched 95 goals. 

2014 - Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) - "Johnny Hockey" was a member of the 2015 NHL All-Rookie Team, the winner of the 2017 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (sportsmanship), and was a 7-time All Star. His best season came in the 2021-22 campaign when he tallied career highs in goals (40), assists (75) and points (115) for the Flames. Tragically he was killed when struck by a drunk driver in 2024. He finished with 243 goals and 500 assists in 763 games. He was 31.

2015 - Jack Eichel (Boston University) - The second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel just wrapped up his 10th NHL Season. He was a member of the 2016 NHL All-Rookie Team, has played in four All Star Games, and won the 2023 Stanley Cup with Vegas. He's scored 239 goals in 616 career games.

2016 - Jimmy Vesey (Harvard) - Vesey's NHL career has seen him suit up with the Rangers, Sabres, Maple Leafs, Canucks, Devils, Rangers again, and now the Colorado Avalanche. Vesey's best season came in 2018-19 when he tallied 17 goals and 18 assists for the Rangers. He has appeared in 626 NHL games.

2017 - Will Butcher (University of Denver) - Originally drafted by the Avalanche in 2013, Butcher made his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils in 2017. He rookie campaign was his best NHL season as a he set career highs in goals (5), assists (39) and points (44) and he made the All-Rookie Team. He currently plays for Red Bull München in Germany. 

2018 - Adam Gaudette (Northeastern) - Gaudette has bounced around the league seeing time with the Canucks, Blackhawks, Blues and Senators, and just signed a contract with the San Jose Sharks. He has scored 46 goals in 301 NHL games. 

2019 - Cale Makar (University of Massachusetts) - Drafted 4th overall in 2017, Makar made his NHL debut during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's been a mainstay with the Avalanche ever since averaging more than a point per game (116 goals and 312 assists in 395 games). He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2020 (best rookie), was a member of the 2020 All-Rookie Team, a 3-time NHL First Team Selection, a 3-time NHL All Star, a 2-time Norris Trophy Winner (best defenseman), a Conn Smythe Trophy Winner in 2022 (MVP), and he won a Stanley Cup in 2022. 

2020 - Scott Perunovich (University of Minnesota-Duluth) - Drafted by the Blues, Perunovich has seen action with them, the Islanders and will suit up next season with the Utah Mammoth. His best NHL season came in 2023-24 when he tallied 17 assists in 54 games for St. Louis.

2021 - Cole Caufield (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - Caufield has spent his entire NHL career with Montreal after being drafted 15th overall by them in 2019. He's coming off a career-best season where he scored 37 goals and tallied 70 points while appearing in all 82 games for the second consecutive season.

2022 - Dryden McKay (Minnesota State) - The 5'11" McKay posted 26 career shutouts (tied for the NCAA Division 1 record) at Minnesota State and was just the third goalie to win the Hobey Baker Award. Undrafted, he currently plays in the AHL with the Ontario Reign, an affiliate for the Los Angeles Kings.

2023 - Adam Fantilli (University of Michigan) - The third overall pick in 2023, Fantilli broke out in his second NHL season with the Blue Jackets scoring 31 goals and tallying 54 points while playing in every game. 

2024 - Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) - The youngest player ever to win the Hobey Baker, Celebrini had a solid rookie campaign with the Sharks scoring 25 goals and tallying 38 assists in 70 games. He earned a spot on the 2025 All-Rookie Team.

2025 - Isaac Howard (Michigan State) - Howard is coming off a big junior year where he tallied 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games for the Spartans. Just 21 years old, Howard will be competing for a spot on the Oilers opening day roster. 

So as you can see it's something of a mixed bag. You've got guys like Johnny Gaudreau and Cale Makar and Jack Eichel and Cole Caufield and Macklin Celebrini who have all found success in the NHL, but there's also a lot of guys who weren't drafted and/or just didn't pan out. It will be interesting to see how Isaac Howard does at the next level.