Oilers’ Isaac Howard Having Hot Start With AHL’s Bakersfield Condors

The Edmonton Oilers made waves in the offseason when they decided to make a move for a youngster in forward Isaac Howard, acquiring him from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Sam O’Reilly. As a previous Hobey Baker Award winner, Howard had some high expectations coming into the 2025-26 season, but it seemed as though the Oilers were willing to be patient with him as he got used to the professional level of hockey.

Howard made the Oilers’ opening-night roster, but it was clear from the beginning that he had some issues he needed to clean up before he could become a permanent fixture in their lineup. He played 17 games with the Oilers, scoring two goals and adding one assist for three points, before they chose to assign him to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Obviously, it’s still early on in his campaign, and the main goal for the Oilers is to continue to allow him to develop as he works his way back to the NHL level. His defensive game seems to be the main thing the organization wants him to work on before he gets the chance to play for the Oilers again, but his hot start has to have turned some heads already.

We will see if he can continue to fine-tune his game at both ends of the ice and can eventually become the top-six forward that the Oilers want him to be. Howard has proven in previous seasons that he can be a difference maker in terms of offensive production, so if he keeps putting up points and dominating the AHL, the Oilers won’t have a choice but to call him up sooner rather than later.

As the 2025-26 season moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world.