Oilers Need To Find Right Fit For Howard

The Edmonton Oilers acquired Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning last summer. Tampa received Edmonton’s 2024 first-round pick and Sam O’Reilly. Howard is the Oilers’ top prospect within a shallow prospect pool.

With players like Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Mattias Janmark entering their mid‑30s, the Oilers need to start inserting youth and skill near the top of their lineup. The expectation is that Howard has the upside to eventually develop into a long‑term fixture in a top-six role.

Howard appeared in 29 NHL games for the Oilers during the 2025-26 season, registering five points, while averaging just over 10 minutes a night. He spent most of the season with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL. He registered 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points in 47 games for Bakersfield.

At Michigan State in 2024‑25, Howard registered 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games. His scoring ability allowed him to seamlessly transition from the NCAA into the AHL last season.

Who and where is the right fit for Howard?

The usual spot for talented young forwards looking to prove themselves at the NHL level is often on the third line. It’s a spot where they get meaningful minutes without the pressures of a top‑six spot.

Howard on the third line could help address a key issue the Oilers had last season. Edmonton’s depth scoring in 2025-26 was almost non-existent. When Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were not on the ice, Edmonton scored fewer than 1.7 goals per game at five-on-five. A drastic drop from the 2.42 rate they posted during the 2022‑23 season.

The big question is how the third line will look under new head coach Mike Babcock. With the Oilers re-signing Jason Dickinson, it’s clear they envision a third line focused on defensive play. Even though Howard improved his defensive game in Bakersfield, defending is not a strength of his. Playing him on a defensive-minded third line would be counterproductive. He needs to play in a spot that maximises his strengths, which are his offensive abilities.

A scenario where Edmonton plays Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins as a third‑line centre, and moves Dickinson down to 4th-line centre would work better. Howard could generate chemistry with Nugent‑Hopkins and another winger, like Kasperi Kapanen. We’ll wait and see what happens, but it would be a shame to see Howard’s talents not get utilized properly.