Finishing off the Edmonton Oilers top 10 prospects rankings at Oil on Whyte, we have Isaac Howard.
Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, 31st overall at the 2022 NHL Draft, after developing with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He would spend the next three seasons playing in the NCAA, his freshman year with the University of Minnesota-Duluth and his sophomore and junior seasons with the Michigan State University.
In 2025, Howard won the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's Most Valuable Player. This sparked a desire for him to turn pro and with the Lightning not being able to offer him a good opportunity, Howard requested a trade. In July 2025, the Oilers pulled off the surprise move, sending their own former first round pick, prospect Sam O'Reilly the other way in a one-for-one swap.
After one year in the Oilers organization, Howard finds himself as the highest potential prospect in the system. This is even despite his underwhelming rookie season with the Oilers that saw him score just five points (two goals, three assists) in 29 games. He did find his scoring touch in the American Hockey League with the Bakersfield Condors, scorign 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in just 47 games played.
Now, he has the chance to truly find his game under a new head coach in Mike Babcock. The new Oilers bench boss has spoken glowingly of Howard during training camp saying "The biggest thing I've been impressed with Howard, has been his transformation as a goal scorer to hounding the puck. He has a high motor game and his detail to play the right way has been good."
Future outlook
Heading into this season, it seemed like the Oilers would be forced to play their big trade acquisition in a more advantageous position in the lineup. As of right now, that has not what has happened just four games into the new season.
To begin the 2026-27 NHL season, Howard has been primarily occupying a spot in the bottom-six, averaging slightly over 10 minutes of time on ice per game. As an NHL prospect, Howard was initially seen as a perimeter player, who had high skill level as a dual-threat player but has seemingly welcomed a change of pace, becoming more of a high energy forechecking force.
If he is to live up to the hype he once had, the Oilers will have to move him up the lineup but this would be the time to do that. The Oilers have been dealing with injury struggles with many players up front finding themselves on the sidelines with an injury to begin the season. This should be the time that Howard forces himself high in the lineup
If he is unable to win over the Oilers coaching staff and get a better opportunity, his NHL hopes and dreams may be shattered. At the very least, a much improved spot where he can get some powerplay usage and have a fighting chance at racking up points could do wonders for a player like Howard.
NHL potential
At 22 years old, Howard has already played some NHL games, something that is sure to help his future potential. His skillset is interesting and is something that makes him truly projectable in a variety of a roles in the NHL going forward.
His willingness to put in the work to play a less exciting role as a bottom-six player speaks well for how he will fare at the NHL level. It gives him a good baseline as a player who can find some value as an energy forechecker in the bottom-six but his offensive skills raise his ceiling as a potential top-six point producer.
It is most likely that Howard finds himself in the middle tier, playing middle-six minutes as a secondary scoring option. However, at this point it remains to be seen when he will get his shot higher in the lineup, if ever. But, it is clear that the potential is there if he is ever given a proper chance.
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