Isaac Howard is making it harder and harder to ignore what he’s doing in Bakersfield. Sent down to the AHL so he could get more ice time and produce offensively, he’s done that in spades. The Edmonton Oilers prospect recorded a natural hat trick on Saturday night to lead the Condors to a 3–2 win, another strong statement in a series of solid outings.
Through 14 games with Bakersfield, Howard now has nine goals and 19 points, good for a 1.36 points-per-game pace as a rookie. He’s also sitting at plus-13. Edmonton had hoped he would be a good fit in the top nine, maybe even the top six. Unfortunately, he wasn’t given the minutes for more than a shift or two in a game or two to start the season. Often playing under eight minutes a night, it was tough for him to find a rhythm.
His raw skill was never the question. The debate was always about timing and whether he’d get the reps he needed to get rolling.
Going to the AHL Was The Right Call for Howard
Howard has benefited from getting extra AHL minutes. The decisions seem to be paying off, and at some point, the hope is his AHL success will translate into NHL production. The Condors have given him exactly what he needs: ice time, responsibility, and the freedom to play through mistakes. He won’t get that in Edmonton right now, so calling him up seems unlikely.
Isaac (Ike) Howard Oilers Photo by Jim Parsons
Some fans will wonder why the Oilers haven’t recalled Howard, given his red-hot run in Bakersfield. Look no further than Quinn Hutson‘s recent stint in Edmonton, and you’ll understand why. Edmonton is leaning heavily on its top six and getting Jack Roslovic back on Sunday. Hutson scored a goal in his couple of games, but did so while getting almost no minutes. His high was 9:17 on Saturday. That’s not the right play for Howard.
For a first-year pro, there’s real value in playing a lot, running power plays, and building confidence away from the NHL spotlight.
The Oilers have seen this movie before. Letting young players cook in the minors is finally starting to show returns with a player like Matthew Savoie, and there’s no reason to rush Howard before he’s fully ready to contribute in a meaningful role.
If this production continues, the call-up will come.
Next: Oilers Get Roslovic Boost to Lineup Ahead of Game vs. Golden Knights
