Isaac Howard walked into Edmonton Oilers camp with real momentum. Head coach Mike Babcock made sure that momentum didn't turn into comfort.
Babcock told reporters Howard showed up to camp completely ready and hungry, opening a real door for the young forward.
That opportunity got even bigger after Matthew Savoie's summer injury opened a genuine path for Howard to lock down a top-six role to start the season.
Howard was Tampa Bay's first-round pick, 31st overall, back in 2022, before Stan Bowman acquired his rights in July 2025 in exchange for Sam O'Reilly.
He arrived in Edmonton fresh off winning the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player following a dominant season at Michigan State.
His first pro season split time between the NHL and AHL. With Bakersfield, Howard exploded for 24 goals and 26 assists in just 47 games, a genuine point-per-game pace.
In Edmonton, he posted just 2 goals and 3 assists in 29 games, even getting a look on the top line with Connor McDavid before getting sent back down to work on his defensive game.
Why Babcock's postgame tone should worry Howard
Babcock didn't hold back after Saturday's preseason game, and he was noticeably tougher on Howard than on most of his teammates.
That's a real contrast from the praise Babcock offered just days earlier about Howard's readiness and hunger coming into camp.
Howard's game is built on smooth skating and quick hands in tight spaces, a natural scorer with real offensive instincts. None of that protects him from a coach known for having very little patience.
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This is only one preseason game, and Howard will get more chances to prove himself before final roster decisions get made.
But everyone around this team already knows how short Babcock's patience can run, and a coach known for benching his best players over a single shift isn't likely to give a rookie much slack either.
Howard's path to the top six is still wide open. Whether he actually claims it may come down to how quickly he can win Babcock back after one rough outing.
Will Isaac Howard secure a top-six role with the Oilers this season?
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