COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to terms with Edmonton Oilers assistant general manager Scott Howson to make him their new general manager, The Columbus Dispatch reported on its website Wednesday.

The newspaper, citing an NHL source, said the team and Howson had reached a deal Wednesday, and said an announcement would be made Friday at Nationwide Arena, home of the Blue Jackets.

Blue Jackets spokesman Todd Sharrock would not comment on the report, and Oilers spokesman J.J. Hebert said he was unaware of any deal.

A message seeking comment was left at Howson's home in Edmonton on Wednesday evening.

Howson, 47, played for the New York Islanders in 1984-85, scoring five goals and three assists in 18 games as a forward, according to a biography posted on the Oilers' website.

He graduated from law school at York University in Toronto in 1990 and ran Edmonton's top farm club from 1994-2000. He was hired by the Oilers in 2000 and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2001.