Edmonton Oilers May Be Ready to Move on from Former Top Prospect

The Edmonton Oilers appear to have lost patience with Isaac Howard, a former top prospect whom they once envisioned playing alongside stars like Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Unfortunately, Howard’s progress has stalled, landing him on The Athletic’s recent trade candidates list. The piece from October 17 suggests that he is the prime candidate for a trade as the Oilers pursue a Stanley Cup.

According to Oilers beat reporter Jason Duench, the management, led by general manager Stan Bowman, feels they cannot wait for Howard’s skills to develop while competing for a championship. After being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning, he hasn’t fulfilled expectations and now faces uncertainty about his role, especially with several injured forwards returning. Although he possesses talent and is valuable on an entry-level contract, there is little time for the Oilers to let him grow into a more significant role.