The Oilers have played Ike Howard most of this season in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, in a way that is reminiscent of Matt Savoie’s deployment one year ago. Howard plays a different style, more offense and less two-way acumen. Will that play with coach Kris Knoblauch? Please read this.
Howard is 20-22-42 in 39 AHL games, with an even strength goal share of 54 percent (39-33 goals). Both sets of numbers rank him as one of the best players on Bakersfield, and it’s clear he will have an NHL career barring injury.
The Oilers have housed their AHL prospects in Bakersfield since 2015. Here are the 20-goal scorers among rookie forwards since then: Quinn Hutson (27 in 2025-26) and Ike Howard (20 in 2025-26). That might make you think the Oilers didn’t have real goal-scoring talent in previous seasons, but there were many who were capable of playing in the NHL and having solid careers.
Anton Slepyshev, Jesse Puljujarvi, Dylan Holloway, Matt Savoie and others had enough skill to be significant players (Slepyshev went back to the KHL, Puljujarvi suffered injuries that derailed his career). The biggest reason the Oilers haven’t had a 20-goal scorer in these years? The club always brought them to the NHL before they could play enough games to score 20 goals.
You can view that as a positive, or a negative. I like the idea of having real quality in the AHL. Both Howard and Hutson have played in the NHL this season and could be inserted during the playoffs if injuries hit.
I think Stan Bowman and his staff deserve some flowers for building up the talent base in Bakersfield. It isn’t the most important thing, but is something this organization had allowed to lapse in recent times.
On the Lowdown today, our guests will be Rachel Kryshak from Betalytics (12:40) and Jason Gregor (1:20) from the JG Show. We’ll talk Oilers strong showings recently, and about the Vegas Golden Knights extreme devotion to winning. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Edmonton Oilers line shuffle brings youth, speed to Connor’s McDavid unit
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7155940/2026/03/30/edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-line-savoie-podkolzin-stats/
Stu Skinner calling out Connor and Leon by name and saying Anthony Mantha is better than both.
https://x.com/penguinsjesus/status/2038962573714903105?s=46
Not seeing any other media outlet reporting this except a MSN article whose source is that tweet.
Seems fishy.
Silovs was in goal last night. Skinner would not be doing interviews after the game. Do better. Fact check a random tweet.
Nice too see the Leafs get a pound of flesh off the George Parros Ducks.
Nice to see the Leafs make themselves useful and engineer a 3rd period comeback and OT win. Didn’t think they had it in them!
So it only took them 73 games and their captain getting a dirty hit for them to show some heart.
It’s really hard to play that style for 82 games you need the right personal and a super deep team. It finally caught up to the Panthers after the battles they’ve had with the Lightning.
Stone played well against the Oilers. However, did anyone else think he was too slow to keep up during Olympics?
I thought he was the easiest choice to take out in favor of ..I don’t know…Hyman.
Bedard, Scheifele.
Toronto is really not very good
Maybe good enough for tonight!???
Sorry fellas, I clapped for Toronto tonight. Just a little. At least they took 1 point away from the waterfowl
I cheered, in silence, for the Laughs too
Max Domi is a warrior.
If the Matt Cooke knee capper Gudas won’t fight a good Messier elbow to chops will work.
Gudas fought 3 seconds in to the game.
He did answer the bell, didn’t exactly fight. like he was taking his medicine as pointed out by broadcast crew
I honestly don’t know what to make of this guy.
His team loves him.
He single handedly seemed to inspire his Olympic team to possible upsets.
Yet he pulls these bull dirty moves.
One turtle fight is worth taking the Captain and 60 goal scorers knee out. Matthews is only 28 he may never be the same after that cheap shot. If that was Nurse who did that the George Parros Ducks would have given him 10 games.
You literally said “if he won’t fight” – he fought.
Your response above is an entirely different discussion – you do this every time when your original “opinion” is challenged with fact – you just change your discussion point.
What is wrong with you?
22 year-old shoot first 37 goal scorer Cutter Gauthier can thank that cross check that put him out of the game with injury on Gudas. Now Leo Carlson is done for the stretch drive.
If only they had Connor Clattenburg in the lineup.
He’s now fought twice.
My ass he has Toronto has knocked out the 2 best Duck players Granlund is next.
Leo Carlsson has returned to action.
And scores
He limped off like his leg was shot.
Makar was also hurt tonight.
If only the Avs had Clattenburg in the lineup.
New coach, same goalie.
Hill over committing and spinning out on a 2-1, decent move from Kane but Hill looked shaky as can be.
I wouldn’t worry about it, I hear Carter ‘the saviour’ Hart is close to returning.
Treliving axed in T.O.
https://thescore.com/nhl/news/3454465
Right before the Leafs-Ducks rematch game. Fascinating.
Are they snagging Cassidy and Treliving wouldn’t fire Berube? The timing just seems odd…not like they’re going anywhere fast.
I’m all for moving as soon as you know where you want to go…but this certainly isn’t the Leafs’ usual way.
Too bad. I really enjoyed the Treliving era in Toronto.
Jeff Jackson would sure be a great hire there. Local guy, worked for the team before, still lives there Im pretty sure, McDavid’s agent.
Damn. I was hoping that would be the gift to continue giving for the rest of the decade.
It’s a shame, but he made all the mistakes one would expect of him.
LT – you often call MacTavish “smart”.
He’s on Stauffer’s show right now exhibiting exactly why I will never say that.
They got to talking about Eakins – he laid out the weak reason he hired him (wanted a role model for players, and liked his character), then defended him both for his time coaching the Oilers and his track record afterward.
You hire a coach to COACH.
He also didn’t acknowledge in any way the damage this guy did to multiple players, and the fact that despite giving him players he specifically wanted, the team stunk. Or Eakins’ clear arrogance and immaturity.
If you couldn’t see that coaching was a massive problem at the time, you are not in any way smart when it comes to hockey.
I’m with you, the last player to not wear a helmet probably isn’t a smart man. It tells me a lot about what he values and it is different than what a value.
He is witty though and says some clever things. Generally I enjoy him as a tv personality for those reasons.
But I don’t want him in charge of making decisions about the team I cheer for.
Dammit I came up with a better way to say what I wanted to say, but it is too late to edit.
—
He’s a lot of things, I don’t think smart is one of them. I think he has the ability to say things in a witty, clever or entertaining way, like “if you have to ask the question”. That makes him a charismatic communicator. And I think that is part of why he was a good coach.
But to put it like he would, “The last NHL player to not protect their brain with a helmet probably isn’t the person you want in charge of long term decision making.”
— yeah he’s for sure quick witted and good for TV. Bleeds Oil.
— Clearly he caught lightning in a bottle with the trip to the Cup: didn’t make playoffs the following three years, never made it out of first round.
— I can’t think of a coach in the NHL who had so many bad years in a row but never got fired (certainly he was quick to yank his coaches while is was GM that also didn’t make playoffs
— Regardless of what I think : he never got an executive job outside of Edmonton: that tells you all you need to know about how the league rates him. Even more so because it’s an old boys league and no one else deemed him worthy
— as GM I am grateful for his stewardship which allowed them to draft McDavid
— As GM they never made the playoffs and is the only GM ever who got “promoted” from being a lousy AHL for another team directly to GM. He grossly over rated his team and thought they were close with the 3 Steve Austin’s.
— Except OBC he had no business being the GM. His Eakins hiring, zoom fire, coming down to the bench to side things out…
— so yeah he’s a colourful quote, by all accounts a great guy to hang out with.
— But his record is what it is: coached for way too long with an outlier year, and was awful unqualified GM that was way out of element that no one in league would put anywhere near their executive since.
Intelligence, discernment, and judgement are mutually orthogonal attributes.
The Eakins hire was a failure of discernment and of judgement.
Good points. I’ve met numerous very intelligent investment managers. Unfortunately, a lot of them don’t make great decisions.
Nelson would have been a much better choice. Had just made the third round with the barons twice in a row. Had coached Hall, Eberle, Schultz etc.
There’s still time…
I’d love that in the summer if things dont go well in playoffs this year. It’s crazy he hasn’t got a shot outside his time here.
Random Oilers draft trivia:
Coach says both Frederic and Dach are close – they won’t play tomorrow and whether its Thursday, Sat or the game after, they are both nearing a return.
I don’t see Dach getting in to the lineup though.
Jones is better
He sure has been. As Bill Murray once uttered in Stripes. “That’s a fact, jack!”
LT posted EV goal differentials and both Hutson and Howard are hovering around where Samanski was.
That suggests both Howard and Hutson are at least decent defensively.
You know, you don’t realize you miss something until it’s gone.
I am missing the build up and hype of the Leafs going into the playoffs for their inevitable 1st round exit.
It sure would be nice if they could beat the Ducks tonight.
100%
Now that the pressure is gone, reel off some victories against Pacific division teams.
Leafs are in tank mode they’re only top 5 protected or else they lose the pick to Boston.
The most Leafs outcome ever is winning enough games in their final 10 to land in position 6. I say they have a chance.
I would expect the Leafs will be in to the game tonight….. of course, the points don’t matter so they may be fine with a parade to the penalty box.
” you don’t realize you miss something till it’s gone”.
I miss Hemsky and mironov and Igor Ulanov
Good names. Can i add: McClelland (what I wouldn’t do to have him on the team now), Tikkanen., Pisani, Weight, Staois and Klefbom.
Honourabls mention. Horcoff. Class act, solid as steel, and while he was here, he was always accused of making too much. As if that was his fault. A commendable captain from Trail during some tumultuous years.
Frederic is a full participant at skate today, rotating in on the fourth line.
Intel was that he should be back Tuesday or Thursday.
I suspect he comes in for Lazar or Jones – given Jones has been playing well and the team winning, maybe they wait until Thursday, just give him an extra two days – concussions can be fussy.
I know they like Henrique for the PK and taking draws. But Lazar can do all that Henrique does. I’d go with (Jones/Dach-Lazar-Frederic)
As far as the PK, blocking shots and winning draws, I take Rico over Lazar all days long (in particular the first two)/
I imagine if everyone is healthy and playing well enough, we will see the AHL guys in the Black Aces and the NHL regs given first shot. Especially Henri, one last shot as he won’t be back with the Oilers or at all. Possible Samanski is playing well enough to bump someone now, but it usually goes established first
I can’t believe Adin Hill makes $6.25M until 2031.
Man, and I thought we had a bad goalie contract!
Bad bet. And Oilers fans thing we have boat anchors. Yet another lesson to not make that kind of commitment on a small body of work, albeit he did take them to a SC win
That is not a lot of money for an average goalie. By 2031 it will be peanuts.
However, the bigger question isn’t goalie salary, it’s budget for goaltending in the overall roster.
Hill is having a bad year. It happens.
I’m a goalie defender (I think fan expectations of goalies are the only “voodoo” – they’re usually way out of this world), but I’m skeptical about a goalie budget (two goalies) that exceeds 5-10% of the Cap. Especially when the difference between most goalies is slight.
Slumps are real. Confidence, like luck, is fickle. Real life (babies, deaths, marriages, etc) have an impact on performance. This year’s “elite,” Vezina-candidate goalie is too often next year’s under-achiever. And vice versa.
I don’t know what’s up with Hill this year. I’m pretty sure things will look different for him in a year or two. Then his $6.25M will look cheap.
As for the Oilers, I’m hoping Jarry recovers his mojo sooner rather than later and that his salary stops being a talking/complaining point. I am impressed w Ingram’s recovery and hope he gets all the support on-ice (and off) he needs to build his game this year. I also hope GM SB can retain him for under $3M for 2-3 years. Or $6M for seven, because that’ll be peanuts in a year or two for an average goalie.
I can see why your such a Goalie defender after having Dryden-Roy in net for 20 years combined.
I only watched the Habs 71-79, so missed Roy, Price, etc. My real appreciation and default “goalie-lover” came about first because Dryden was a hero to me, but second because I had to defend the Myre-Thomas-Larocque trio against my father’s reflexive goalie-hating. If I’m trigger-happy when defending goalies, it’s down to those teenager v dad battles of the 70s.
The Habs were so deep in goal one year Wayne Thomas didn’t play at all. Poor bastard.
To my dad it didn’t matter who was in net or how deep the Habs were there, any goal against was one goal too many. My “sensitivity” to Oilerville’s goalie intolerance has deep roots. (I almost got into it w a guy bad-mouthing Skinner at a local U18 playoff game here on the Island. Probably time for goalie-identification therapy…)
Just a reminder that the Oilers are paying almost $9 million for goaltending at the moment.
With no sure fire back up in place and the Jack Campbell buyout increasing to $2.6, it’s entirely possible they will be spending over $10 million next season.
Hill and Schmid come in at a little over $8 million although they may make changes.
The buyout is currently 2.3M increasing to 2.6. Groundbreaking.
Over 10M next year would still be 10th in the league.
“Hill and Schmid come in at a little over $8 million although they may make changes.”
I hope they do because it’s horrawful.
Carter Hart is close to returning from injury.
How he performed down the stretch may inform offseason moves.
This IS the stretch.
The 0.871 Carter Hart?
Going into the offseason:
VAN – 13.0 (yikes)
BOS – 11.2
NYR – 11.5
NYI – 11.0
SEA – 10.9
TBL – 10.75
EDM – 10.0+ ? (paying 2 unplayable goaltenders with no clear #1)
STL – 9.4
DAL – 9.25
OTT – 9.25
MIN – 9.0
NSH – 9.0
WSH – 8.85
CAL – 8.8
ANA – 8.7
CHI – 8.5
WPG – 8.5
VGK – 8.25
TOR – 7.24
NJD – 7.8
COL – 7.75
LAK – 7.5
BUF – 6.25
DET – 6.24
CLB – 5.4
MTL – 5.03
SJS – 5.0
UTA – 4.75
CAR – 3.9
PHA – 3.35
FLA – 0.0
PIT – 0.0
“Going into the offseason:
VAN – 13.0 (yikes)
BOS – 11.2
NYR – 11.5”
I love these posts of yours, purely because you were fully supportive of Vancouver’s moves and NYR signing Shesterkin to his $11.5m x 8 year contract.
Fib sequence intiated…
Spot the lies, win a prize!
Vegas is beginning their death spiral, and it’s going to be an awful hangover.
Consider:
They have no players under 25 contributing in their lineup.
Virtually no prospects of significance or draft picks as they’ve all been traded for also-rans like Hanifin and Andersson.
Stone is turning 34, Hertl is 32, and Marner has been paid and doesn’t give a shit.
In a division with Anh and SJ ascending the Knights are cooked.
I for one applaud them for lighting any assets they have on fire for the same Dcore that the Oil cooked in 5 in Calgary 4 years ago.
Wait till they pay Rasmus Anderson $9m per year on a long term deal this June.
Interesting critique.
Oilers have 4 – 25 and under players on the roster (Podkholzin hits 25 shortly), Samanski 24, Savoie 22 and Emberson 25.
Vegas has 4 – 25 and under players on the roster, Dorofeyev 25, Braden Bowman 22, Kaedan Korczak 25 and Akira Schmid 25.
In his most recent prospect pool rankings, Scott Wheeler has Vegas rated at #25 while the Oilers are at #30.
Hyman is turning 34, Nuge will be 33 in 10 days, Ekholm is older than any Vegas D and turns 36 in a few weeks.
The Oilers have 9 picks in the next 2 drafts while Vegas has 10.
Appears to me the teams are rowing the same boat.
Except Vegas has a Cup and we have squat.
Reja and Fibonacci: get a room already. Seems like you’re both in love with Vegas.
What happens in Vegas…….
I hate Vegas it doesn’t change the fact they have a Cup and we don’t.
Excepting, of course, VGK assistant captain Alex “Bunyan” Peiterangelo (Jan. 18, 1990) who is >5 months older than Ekholm (May. 24, 1990).
Attempt to craft shitty narratives more diligently. Your schtick is tired.
Karma’s a bitch
If and when bako loses in the playoffs, might we see Ike on the taxi squad? Depends how the oil fare too i suppose, but i would think having him in their pocket could be good.
There is no roster limited in the playoffs (or even now) – they can bring anyone up they want to join the team and I’m sure Howard would be one.
Podkolzin/McDavid/Savoie
Howard/Draisaitl/Hyman
Nuge/Samanski/Frederic
Dach/Varjalamamama/Poulin/Clatt/Hutson
Don’t resign Roslovic,Dickinson,Kapanen.
Play the youth, fix the crease.
This is my ideal for next year but I would prefer to see Freddy on the 4th line to improve its fortunes and bring back roslovic at a good number. To be honest for a long time I saw no hope for replacement of Nuge and Hyman ( Bless Savoie and Podz)
Save the money on the Roslovic contract, Frederic has been moving much better with his leg looking like its returning to normal.
If he cant produce with Nuge/Samanski then give the opportunity to Hutson/The Russian that could be brought over/a cheap fall addition similar to Roslovic this year.
Fix the crease.
Ok I see your point and would ask if that to you means an upgrade in net or in defense?
If in net then I dont see why doing both isn’t an option.
In net, spend the money on a legit top level starter.
Unless Nurse is moving the defense is set.
Bouchard/Ekholm/Walman/Emberson are all probably locked in with Nurse. They can bring back Murphy or someone similar, there’s some youth coming up aswell.
The defense wont see much change if any at all.
Go grab a top 10 goaltender, the McDavid Oilers have never done that, try it. The defense will improve with a impactful mostly goalie.
Everyone crying that the defense will improve the goaltending yadda yadda, well in the same vein, bringing in a goalie that will improve the defense is equally as possible. Jarry is never going to be that guy, Ingram would be a nice backup for a impact goalie imo.
Play the youth, spend on a starter, come to me in 20 years with pictures of Stanley and tell me to stand down.
** maybe Ingram puts together a post season run that makes him a impact goalie. If so, spend the money on a impact 2RD.
Who?
That’s up for management to figure out.
Find a squad going into rebuild with a quality starting goaltender and ask from there.
We had our franchise Goalie Walstedt for the next 10 years gift wrapped to us. It even had a pink frilly bow on top. l’ll bet Billy Guerin sent over a case of Scorch for Holland&Sons.
Yes, Walstedt would of been a great pick. Didn’t happen that way and now we’ve moved on looking for a top draw starting mostly goalie.
“Fix the crease.”
Impossible. Was tried with Campbell. With Jarry.
Crease, and especially in the hang-em-high out-to-dry Oilerville context, is a “constant retool” position. I love goalies. I don’t expect any goalie to sustain necessary confidence and mojo behind this team, in Oilerville, year over year. Factor in the NHL ambivalence about head hits and hits to goalies…
Better to buy low, have low expectations, keep a flow of young, cheap talent from the minors/waivers/reclamations.
I grew up watching Fuhr, Ranford, Cujo, Salo.. Slats always had top tier tending. Those days can be rediscovered.
As did I. And yes those days can be rediscovered but as the organization is currently constructed, I don’t see it happening soon. I’d love to be wrong, with Ingram – even Jarry – stepping up
Unbelievably Sather went through 8 Goalies in a year and 7/8 before he hit the jackpot on Moog.
I agree with playing the youth and see who will emerge, of course.
But looks like you are undervaluing Roslovic. This guy contributed all through top 9. He is a puck transporter and a shooter. He is skill. And a team must have this skill supported with energy and hard work.
Look at your third line. The entire line is unlikely to produce 20 goals at 5 on 5. What I liked about Roslovic is he did not allow himself to be Oilerized. He was strong enough to stick to his game, without deferring.
And Dickinson, was it just lucky timing that the team seemed to turn after he brought his defensive play? Don’t know. But right now he looks critical.
I get it, cap hit, new contracts etc and reality forces choices. But the bottom six as listed is not playoff caliber.
I dont under value Roslovic at all, if the Oilers didn’t have Howard, Hutson, ect waiting in the wings Id say pay him.
Yet they do, so paying Roslovic a contract to his liking seems like an unwise use of cap space.
Roslovic has been a fine addition and his offensive contributions have been stellar this year.
Howard will eat that up next year and going forward.
Acting like all of Roslovics production has taken place in a 3rd line role is blatantly incorrect.
How does “contributed all through the top 9” equate to your conclusion?
regardless, I believe:
Hutson is too slow.
Howard cannot transport the puck.
while I hope Howard finds a spot, I also think he can easily be traded to bring in someone bigger.
Hopefully Howard ends up a finisher and size comes from someone like Dach and Freddy takes his intended role.
This is NOT a post against the youth, I love the bets Bowmans has made. The toughest finds are the goal scorers and I think Roslavic is good for 20 goals. We need him AND we need Howard.
And Samanski to become mini Erickson Eck we missed on years ago.
Lots of Roslovic talk today and thoughts on a new contract.
Just for perspective he is running close to 50% xgf% in 640 minutes away from Connor and Leon while running a .961 pdo.
What is that worth and have we not been pleading for a 3rd line that doesn’t lose games for us?
If he shows up in the playoffs with similar stats, I can see him asking for 4 million and it being worth it over 3 years.
The question, in my mind, is what’s he worth on his next contract?
Will he sign for another value deal in EDM? If not, let him walk and find a replacement — either internally or elsewhere.
Oh I agree. He probably could make 5 plus on a shit team if he has a good playoffs. If he wants money over playoffs then sail on good sir.
Ros has desirable skill, but since Jan 1 at 5v5 he’s underwater in GF%. If you sign him it’s as a luxury, and it would have to be a lower contract. Kap is 60% plus but won’t score as much. I have think outscoring is most important
Good points.
First I wouldn’t sign Roslovic until post playoffs to see if he can turn it on in the defense first we need for long playoff runs. Also I value his offense for injury replacement in the top 6.
Kap is great but the dude is hurt all the time. Never played a full season unless it was the short season. Roslovic isn’t a cogliano for health but significantly better than kap.
I love what Roslovic has done on the Oilers. But his reputation precedes him. Is one good year enough for the rest of the league to overlook his past results? I don’t think so.
If Bowman gives him a great deal he is bidding against himself.
Having said this, I want Bowman to sign him to a cost effective deal with the Oilers.
For Jack and his agent, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. You found a place to play your game, don’t chase the money, it may completely backfire.
Yes there is the gamble with Roslovic. The one good year and cash in then coast.
For playoffs. Is this idea too much, or can we actually have the 3 scoring line unicorns we have dreamt about.
When Leon comes back, what if you keep top 2 lines intact (clearly working, and balanced. please do not mess it up). But then have Draisatl slide into center with Kapanen and maybe, just maybe, can you squint hard enough to see Howard? Or does he give up too much up defensively for playoffs? If Leon has the soft parade, with our top 2 lines able to match anyone, and a 4th line of Henrique-Dickason-Frederick/Lazar. Does that allow him to feast on lesser opponents? He has always shown the ability to pay with lesser players and still produce. Or would they keep his countryman and Olympic linemate Samanski in that spot
Podkolzin-McDavid-Savoie
Hyman-Nuge-Roslovic
Samanski-Draisatl-Kapanen
Henrique-Dickason-Frederick
Lazar-Jones
i like that lineup, and allows knob to limit Drasaitl’s ice time at EV, and run that 4th line against anyone.
I’d be concerned that Samanski and Kapanen don’t score enough.
I’d probably switch Ros and Kappy. Or Sam and Kappy and put Nuge on wing. But definitely value leaving the Nuge line together too. Drai can polish whoever is with him more so than anyone except maybe Crosby.
I don’t mind the handling of Howard. He has been given a taste of the NHL. It would been challenging for Knobber to integrate two rookie wingers this year. I imagine the game plan is similar to Savoie.
He is integrating two rookie wingers as it is Savoie & Samanski. I suppose Colton Dach also. The theme is rookie wingers need a defensive game or the ability to play physically..
Nothing wrong with a college guy on the first year of his ELC getting used to a long season and working on things he needs to work on in the appropriate league.
It will help him be a pro without the expectations on the big club. His offence will get him to the NHL. Being reasonably dependable will keep him there.
Good thing the Oil are not wanting for goals and can let him round out his game where he needs to. That’s the sensible development curve we all craved here for a whole DoD.
So why not keep the Centre O’Reilly if you’re not going to incorporate a skilled smallish 22 year-old winger? Skilled wingers show themselves early over any other position all we did is burn a year of ELC off him.
Howard has a higher offensive ceiling.
Sam O’Reily is no more a lock to “make it” as Howard – 2-way players at the Junior level are extremely over-rated as far as “can’t miss”. See Ryan O’Mara as a prime Oiler example.
Sam O’Reily will likely need just as much time, if not more, at the AHL level once he turns pro as Issac Howard.
Management clearly made the trade with more than just this year in mind and with eyes wide open that the player could need development time – why you can’t acknowledge the same is mind-boggling.
So why are we wasting the Iceman’s offence in Bakersfield? Howard is not the same player as Savoie they’re from a different factory. I can name 100’s of examples of shoot first skilled 21-22 year-olds having profound success in the NHL.
Howard got 25 games in the NHL and showed that he needed to work on various areas of the game in order to play nightly in the NHL and in a middle six or top six spot.
Good thing the players and the league negotiated a system where he could be moved to a development league of high level hockey to work on those things – an entry level contract and waiver exemption system.
Just like Savoie last year and this, Howard will be a much better player and he and the Oilers both better next year because of it.
I am HIGHLY confident that Issac Howard himself does not consider this a waste.
I’d like you to name 10 examples of shoot first skilled 21-22 year olds having profound success in the NHL.
I don’t think you received the memo Cowboy young shooting wingers arrive early. I think you’ve been watching Holland draft and zero development too long. I’ll only go back a few years and this all of the top of my head. Boeser-Boldy-Tkachuk sisters-Caulfield-Slafkovsky-Debrincat-Raymond-Guenther-Batherson-Mattews-Roberston-Kyle Connor-Svechnikov-Mercer-Marchenko-Smith-Konecny-Kempe. These shooters were all playing profound minutes and not scrub minutes like they gave Howard. Cowboy I seriously think K.K got Howard and Clattenburg mixed up.
Ike Howard – 31OV D+4 debut
Cowboy gave him the ultimate way out by not specifying “small” like he’s championed this whole time:
Boeser – 23OV D+4 29 goals 6’1, 209 (sure, +1 Reja)
Boldy – 12OV D+3 Debut (apples to actual giants, 20 spots difference, nope)
Chucky – 6OV (6’2, 200)
Big Chucky – 4OV (6’4 226, truly a peer of Ike)
Caufield – 15OV because size but sure. D+3 for 20 goals (+1 Reja)
Slaf – 1OV (nope)
Debrincat – 39 OV fell because small (+1 Reja)
Raymond – 4OV (nope, 28 spots is not comparable)
Guenther – 9OV (6’1 200, D+4 20+ goals) nope, not comparable
Batherson – D+7 before scoring 20 and 6’3 209. (nope)
Matthews – 1OV (is a centre, giant, nope)
Robertson -39OV (6’3 204) D+5 before 20+ goals (nope)
KFC – 17 OV (not small but svelte enough) (+1 Reja)
Svech – 2OV (6’3 200) Nope
Mercer -18OV (D+3 20+ goals) (+1 Reja)
Marchenko – 49OV (6’3, 201) D+5 before 20 goals. Nope
Smith – Which one?
Konecny -24OV (D+3) (+1 Reja)
Kempe – D+8(1) before he scored 20+ and is 6’2 205.
Conclusions: 6/19, 31.5%. Profound minutes for many were probably because they were top 10 picks.
When we cherry pick over 15 years to the most successful picks then yes, wingers show themselves early. I will not be doing all the small skill misses.
Brendan Gallagher 5’-9” standing on his tiptoes #147 overall full time shoot first forward by age 20. Why have smaller skilled winger in the minors getting maimed Howard is 22 he’s not 19. Howard’s been playing with men in the NCAA just like Snuggerud etc. As we all know watching the Olympic men’s and women’s final that the hardest thing to do in hockey is score. Why trade O’Reilly if you’re going to block Howard with Mangiapane-Tomasek etc?
If mang and Tomesek blocked Howard. Howard wasn’t good enough.
I generally agree with not blocking youth but at the same time those two in peculiar should have been blown by with ease.
I think Savoie and Podz and rosalavic have blocked Howard.
Howard in my opinion will be perfectly suited to be a cheap top 6 winger scoring 20+ next year. Ideal situation for him and the team.
Samanski has already replaced Oreilly and arrived sooner.
Howard has been playing with 19-23 year old kids in the NCAA.
You can continue to throw out random players from over the years that had NHL success as 20 or 21 but maybe, just maybe actually look at Issac Howard him based on his play not based on decades of 21 year old players?
Look at Samanski and Jones start on the 4th line and earn ice and promotions – Ike started higher than that.
Ike Howard is going to score a lot of goals in the NHL because he’s been given the privelllage of development in the proper league.
Random every team in the league has 21-22 year-olds on the wing. What are you Kreskin the magician how do you know Howard wasn’t ready by seeing him in a Clattenburg 6 minute role. It wouldn’t surprise me if Howard is traded this July.
That first statement is a made up lie – not with the impact you suggest.
The Oilers also have that in Matt Savoie and, earlier in the year, had both Savoie and Howard.
I know Howard wasn’t ready because I watched him – same as management who assigned him to the proper league.
I know about Clattenburg because I watch him play – Oilers management and his AHL coach also agree and Clatt can’t stop his parade to the penalty box and is now a 4LW in the AHL playing behind ECHL call-ups.
You can’t bullshit a bullshitter you kept saying Clattenburg wouldn’t make the NHL or it would take years in the minors before he did. Clattenburg did a hell of a job when he was called and for some reason this pisses you off because you were sleeping at the wheel and didn’t in a million years see it coming.
Why would it piss me off that he got called up? I gave the kid all sorts of kudos for how he played while up.
I simply provide an opinion based on what I see and have done so with Clattenbug who is falling down the depth chat in the AHL given his play (or unwillingness to play hockey).
You continue to conflate honest analysis with negative hope – its weird.
It’s obvious Clattenburg is not your cup of tea. I bet the Ducks wished they had Clattenburg in their line-up tonight.
I wish they had just kept Sam O’Reilly.
Have you wanted Howard up this whole time? I hadn’t noticed. This is a fresh unique take thank you.
Good point.
Howard needs to be in the NHL next season after his one year apprenticeship. Does Roslo block him? Depends on where you slot Howard. I’m on the fence with signing Roslo. Red flags, he’s been on a number of teams and went unsigned. And by all accounts, it is going to be a thin free agent market, thus possibly driving his price up.
If he signs a team friendly deal, I would be tempted to keep him but only for a short term, 2-3 years. No more Frederick, Kassian etc deals. It undoes the balance in aa cap system
No doubt that Issac Howard is primarily an offensive player but there has been real development in Bakersfield with respect to his 2-way game, in particular over the last number of weeks – its overly noticeable on the ice.
I’ve been saying this for a bit now and I’m sure it will continue to be a minority opinion but I think its reasonably likely that, with similar deployment as Jack Roslovic got this season, Issac Howard could replace that production next season, or a substantial portion of it.
I like Jack Roslovic and he’s been an impactful Oiler this season and I’d like to have him back but if the contract is in the range of $5MM of 4 years then I’m not so sure its not best to spend that cap elsewhere with a natural incumbent pushing up.
Yes, Roslovic is proven, and Howard is not, but let’s not over-state the production we are talking about which should be in the 22G/37P range by season’s end. Over 90 players have 20+ goals this season.
Howard is a good stylistic replacement for Roslovic as well – a shoot first guy but tons of offensive IQ and puck skills ability. Lets not forget, Roslovic is, we’ll, not the best 200 foot forward on the team, right?
We are taking apx $5Mm vs. <$1MM of cap.
You seem very convinced he’ll land a >$5 million deal less than 8 months after he posted better more consistent crooked numbers and had to settle for a late Oilers contract worth $1.5 million for a single season.
Seems like a stretch to me.
I wonder if he’s offered the Podkolzin contract for three years if he takes it. That would be for value.
The movement in the upper cap limit is what it is.
I can’t imagine he signs $3MM for 3 years.
I don’t understand the team’s approach to cap mngt. Why spend to the cap, or close to it, at the beginning of the season? Even if you can fit in Roslovic at a $4 mill cap to start the season, are you not better off saving that cap space for the trade deadline, where you can fill more obvious holes in the lineup? This team has a solid core of players. Players like Roslovic and Mangiapane are theoretically nice additions to start the season, but they are not essential. If you get to the deadline and see a need for someone like that, you have the cap space to get one.
Agreed. Why try to win the beginning of the season (no idea when this club managed that) when it seems to take most of a season of experiments to get to know who this club is? Save some $ for March, to better fill holes, make adjustments.
Am I doing this right?
You forgot to mention how Sather would have him on the top line with McDavid and Clattenberg, potting hatties while leaving the other team bloody and defeated in their wake
How many Cups did Sather win? Why would you mock Oiler history unless you’re a troll or still not old enough to order a beer in the States.
It’s not Oiler history that he’s mocking…
Are you in the same basement if so you both can Utube together Dave Semenko-Marty McSorely on Gretzky line. There’s so many examples of a heavy forward playing shotgun with skill. How about Pat Maroon on McDavid line we probably have a Cup if he stayed. Patty Maroon played for the Oilers way back in the year 2017.
Remind me of when Maroon, or Kassian for that matter, prevented any of Connor’s injuries.
Remind me who the last 3 Cup winners were and what they have in common besides taking us behind the woodshed?
Drugs
Yes when your team leader is on the juice I would suspect other players on a tight knit team as well. By Hook or by Crook. I would also add Maurice playing the refs like fiddle 2 years running.
I know – I mean, if only Jack and Louie had been advocating for the Oilers during the season they could have got more calls.
That’s right having a Social Media or T.V platform is a powerful tool. Have you ever heard of Joe Rogan? If not how about Kim Kardashian I bet you heard of her and the influence she has.
Aghhh, yes, Louie DeBrusk, right behind Joe Rogan as an influence of decisions.
Actually, I moved out of my mom’s basement about 50 years ago. I’m a senior citizen who has been an Oiler fan since 1972. You’re not the only one here that has seen the good old days. I have watched and played in, tens of thousands of hockey games in my life, and am capable of rational analysis rather than emotionally pining for the olden days.
Your condescending attitude toward people trying to educate you makes you look like the fool, not them. Maybe some time for personal reflection might be in order.
Also, OP is right.
Again what does anything that happened on the ice in the 80s have to do with on-ice success in 2026?
We could have had 2 maybe 3 Cups already if we had an answer for Bennett-Tkachuk-Marchand or better Goaltending. You only get so many opportunities at Cups and poof your in the desert with Canuck-Leaf fans.
Ergo, rely on what worked in the 80’s….
Again what do the last 3 Cup winners have in common? I’ll also throw in St.Louis-Caps for free.
Sather would have challenged Armstrong to a fist fight in a barn where the winner gets the ultimate battler and gamer, Jordan Winnington and the loser gets Mr. FancyPantsNiceGuy Stuart Skinner. They would have sealed the deal with a spit shake and a beer!
I would rather have Binnington for 2 Cup runs. You should read up on your hero Brian Burke I’ll take Kevin Lowe any day and twice on Sunday.
Iceman does in fact have the exact build as former Captain Blair “Fire Hydrant” MacDonald. Not putting him on Connor’s wing is an abomination and a waste of talent.
It looks like the “good ol’ boy” Unoriginal Pouzar fan cult has the day off today.
Advocating to fast track prospects to the NHL just cause they got a cool nickname and a decent shot does not make you right. He has 54% goal share … in the AHL. He’s not exactly tearing the doors off in a lower league.
Then why not keep the Centre O’Reilly? Howard on his salary would have been better in the NHL then the Mangiapane abomination. Or did you forget about losing salary cap on Magpie, goals from Howard or a 1st round pick to discard of Mangiapane.
Well we sure tore up the league this year playing Veterans. It wasn’t until he started leaning on Podkolzin-Savoie-Samanski that we’re finally in a playoff spot without looking over our shoulders.
I’m sure you’ll be the first to point out when they finally show up… if they even bother. Given how nobody seems to have any work ethic these days.
Athletes these days would rather have their safe spaces, and their tick tocks, where they are more concerned about their feelings being hurt and what color they should dye their hair each day! They would not have survived the days of Larry Mad Man Donahue, who they called “Slice” ,because he would try to take his skate off and stab you with it if you even looked at him wrong. You wouldn’t know that though because you are not a True Hockey Fan!
They skated uphill BOTH WAYS in the wind and used bent rebar and coal for sticks. Helmets? More like snowflake insignias. If you didn’t go skates-first into someone’s balding mullet and open him up like a cantelope you didn’t get your 24 pack and Monsanto blues. Now all the soft kids like Chara and Laraque and Wilson are busy ‘playing’ with the puck. Buck Wetsaw from Climax Saskatchewan (not his teammate, the place) would show them what they can play with.
Always riding on someone’s coattails.
Reja, people are teasing – don’t be so sensitive.
I know that it’s a dog day without our team playing tonight.
Easy money is money easily lost.
You’re welcome to pitch in on my farm, or out on site with me, any time. If you think you can keep up… I don’t have any patience for lookers and leaners on my spread.
I agree. Hell of a job by Bowman acquiring this group of prospect forwards. In my opinion that’s step one. Step two is identifying which of them are going to impact your roster in the near future. The rest should be utilized in trades to address other organizational needs. Prospects in the AHL have short shelf lives. If not in the NHL, their value decreases rapidly once they are 23 or 24 years old. Being that the Oilers lack draft picks, these extra prospects need to become their trade assets for help during the Stanley Cup window
Howard can snipe the puck. He is not as good of a skater or as tenacious as Savoie is. I would think you would want to put him in a position where he gets to shoot and be set up a lot? Now bringing him in to play on your 3rd or 4th line and trying to get him to be a 2 way guy like Savoie does not really fit his game. That said a few who follow Bakersfield a lot say he is playing way better in the 2 way game.
But regardless ( to me) I just don’t think he will succeed if he isn’t in your top 6 using his shooting skills.
Knoblauch doesn’t seem to like playing guys coming up from the minors in the top 6. But at least with lots of injuries he has been forced to move guys into bigger roles. Savoie is a good example. He was pretty much stapled on the 3rd line ( Some looks in top 6 ) and now he looks unreal on the top line. Samanski is a staple on the 3rd line now. He looks really good. Knobby is even praising Jones’s game.
So has he dropped his “They have to earn it” style of coaching and now thinking if he puts good talent up the lineup with better players they will develop and succeed faster? Or is it just because of injuries that he had to do this.
I would hope he gives Howard a top 6 shot when he comes back.
This also resembles his NCAA trajectory where he committed to getting better away from the puck. Given he won the Hobey Baker late in his collegiate run, that strategy surely paid dividends.
It’s not unreasonable as he begins his NHL career to expect a similar approach to honing his craft will pay off in the medium to long run.
Makar-McAvoy-Hughes-Fox-Faber-Caulfield-Smith-Gauthier-Snuggerud-Hutson-Leonard-Cooley these are some of the recent players that jumped from the NCAA straight to the NHL. I know I’m missing a bunch of other players. The U.S development program as well as the NCAA programs are crushing it.
100% agree. Woosh.
Good points. His usage of Savoie and Samanski should give us hope for Howard next year.
Crazy idea … maybe Samanski and especially Savoie earned their promotions.
curious how you think his skating is not as good as savoie.
ike is 86th percentile for speed.
savoie is 76th percentile for speed.
Ikes top speed is 23.04 mph whereas savoie is 22.76 mph
Ikes miles skated per 60 mins is 9.91 compared to 9.6 for savoie.
they are both very good nhl skaters.
All I hear are Crickets.
Where does Howard fit on the ‘26-‘27 Oilers roster?
Looking at the Roslo – Nuge – Hyman line, he’s probably best suited to replace Jack-o. Is that the right play?
If Roslovic won’t sign a team friendly renewal with Edmonton (which he has every right not to do), then Howard is the logical replacement. Similar skill set, and playing with 93-18 means there is defensive coverage/education for his offensive game. With a better cap hit too.
With just over $16M of cap space next season, guys like Howard, Hutson and Samanski become very important to making the team work & staying under the cap. I’d love to see Hutson make the team out of camp and hold down one of the centre roles.
In my opinion, Roslo is exactly the kind of player you sign to a cheap one year deal until you find a better replacement. He’s very much a complementary player who can score goals, but doesn’t drive possession and gives up too much the other way imo. Great value on his current contract, but not worth what he’ll command on the open market given his goal scoring.
If it isn’t Howard or Hutson taking that spot next year, then I hope we sign next year’s roslo and keep the value contracts rolling.
ive thought about this more and Roslovic is going to want to get paid. Hes *only* made 19M so far and will some team will double that with his next contract i think. I don’t think we will be able to sign him which might be for the best
No team was jumping up to sign Roslovic last year in free agency. Why should it be any different this year? He should be seriously considering resigning in Edmonton.
He was offered something like 3.5M x 3 at the start of the summer by Edmonton but thought he could do better so didnt take it. It will be interesting to see what he gets. He has had a pretty good year production wise.
I’d trade Howard for a top goaltender in the off season. He still may not be a fit on next years roster.
Nobody is trading the Oilers a top goaltender. There is like 5-6 of them in the league.
How about a trade with Detriot for Sebastian Cossa. He might not be a top goaltender yet. But he has potential, similar to Issac Howard .
And who those 5-6 are tends to change, season over season…
There are no guarantees when big game hunting for goalies.
Howard is Jack Roslovic’s natural replacement and he’ll be ready.
Not if he’s traded.
Just because he’s not lighting up the NHL as a rookie like you demand, doesn’t mean the org isn’t very high on him still. You were adamant he’d be traded at the deadline and he wasn’t.
I would suspect that management is very much looking forward to him providing a Savoie like impact on year 2 of his ELC next year – I know I am.
How do you know he wasn’t being dangled. You never seen the Skinner trade coming either.
I don’t. How do you know he was?
What I do know if the NHL team’s instructions re: deployment in the AHL (Chaulk is open and honest about that) and the focus they have put on Howard, his minutes and his development.
I’m also quiet confident that Stan Bowman knows the cap situation of the Oilers and the value of player providing impact on their ELCs and cheap second contracts and is counting on that from Howard the next few seasons.
I’m just reading the tea leaves. Howard is not going too see any PP time he doesn’t PK and he’s a skilled winger. He’s trade bait he’s one of the only trade chips we have.