ROOKIE CAMP: Howard looks to showcase growth to earn full-time NHL role

EDMONTON, AB – Cool under pressure: The Iceman.

After getting his feet under him at the pro level, Isaac Howard is expecting a lot more from himself during his sophomore season with the Edmonton Oilers as he looks to show he’s a cut above the rest this weekend as a veteran participating in Rookie Camp.

“I think to my standards it wasn't what I wanted, but I think there's a lot of great lessons I took from it to help me grow as a player and come back ready for this camp.  I’m just more prepared and better overall.”

The former Hobey Baker Award winner with the Michigan State Spartans in 2025 described his rookie professional campaign as an up-and-down year, jumping back and forth between the AHL and NHL while working to find his footing in every facet.

Howard has never lacked confidence on or off the ice, and the 22-year-old knew he'd face challenges throughout his first pro season that would need to be overcome to get his game in the right space to begin what will prove to be an important year for him.

“It’s always different when you make a change,” Howard said. “Just a change of scenery. I knew I was going into professional hockey, so of course, it was different. It was a new challenge. Coming back this year, I’m just more comfortable.”

"There's really nothing to be nervous about, which is nice this time around. When you jump into something new, you never know how it's going to go. You never know what it's going to be like, so it's much easier coming back the second year, for sure."

Howard’s greatest growth last season came while in Bakersfield, showcasing the offensive flair that earned him college hockey’s most valuable player award in 2025 by recording 50 points (24 goals) over 47 AHL games for the Condors while also growing his game leaps and bounds away from the puck.

Howard recorded his first career NHL goal with the Oilers on Oct. 21, 2025, in a 3-2 overtime win against Ottawa, but would be limited to two goals & three assists in 25 NHL games over three stints last season when ice time and opportunity dwindled.

Opportunity was aplenty in Bakersfield, where Howard worked closely with Condors Head Coach Colin Chaulk to improve without the puck on his stick and further develop the offensive game that helped him finish fourth in Condors scoring last season despite nearly 20 fewer games played than those around him.

“It was amazing just getting down there and working with the coaching staff,” Howard said. “They were awesome. I spent a lot of time with Colin Chaulk just going over my game, details and how we can get better. A lot of video, asking questions and getting put in a lot of different situations, which I think is really important and helped me a lot.”

Howard saw a top-six opportunity during time in Edmonton last season beside Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl, and the Hudson, MI product could slide back into a similar role to begin the 2026-27 season with Matt Savoie poised to miss Training Camp because of an injury.

With opportunity waiting for him in Edmonton, the 22-year-old wants more as he enters an important year that starts with a strong showing at Rookie Camp this week.

“I thought I was successful in Bakersfield, and of course, I want to be successful here in Edmonton and have a great year here,” Howard said. “So as I said, there's a lot of positives taken from that, and I think I was able to become a better player and a better person. I think sometimes those things are necessary, of course.

“I want to have a good year here, so I think there's definitely room to continue to grow.”