Isaac Howard may finally be in line for the kind of runway the Edmonton Oilers had in mind when they stunned the hockey world last summer.
Howard arrived from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade that sent the Oilers’ previous first-round pick, Sam O’Reilly, the other way. The move brought Edmonton the disgruntled Hobey Baker winner, but the first look at the NHL level this past season didn’t go smoothly. Even so, Howard’s work with the Bakersfield Condors showed plenty more promise: 24 goals, 26 assists and 50 points in 47 AHL games.
Now the question is whether the Oilers will actually give him the chance to build on that.
Oilers insider Jason Gregor thinks the answer could be yes. Speaking on the Jason Gregor show on Sports 1440, he pointed to Howard’s strong year in the AHL and the work he can attack over the summer.
"He just had a really good year in the AHL after a really good year in college." Gregor said.
He added "He will have the whole summer knowing the areas of his game that he needs to work on and improve. So, I don't have high expectations points-wise but I think he'll play 70 games."
Howard is still only 22, and he’s already shown he can produce at every level he’s played. The challenge now is turning that production into something that sticks in the NHL.
A lot of that may depend on what happens behind the bench. Edmonton moved on from former head coach Kris Knoblauch, and the change opens the door for a fresh start for young players. Howard and Quinn Hutson could be among the names who benefit most, while a player like Trent Frederic could also get a boost.
Knoblauch had a poor reputation with young players, and at times it seemed Howard and fellow rookie Matt Savoie might end up in the same category as players such as Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg.
Newly hired head coach Mike Babcock now has a chance to change that dynamic. If he’s going to succeed, he’ll need to get real value from the Oilers’ depth players. He also brings a long track record with young talent, especially from his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For Edmonton, and for Howard, the goal is simple: get the most out of the former NCAA MVP forward.
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