Edmonton Oilers’ Isaac Howard Named to Team USA at World Series of Hockey – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

Howard was added to Team USA after a strong rookie season in the American Hockey League (AHL) where he finished 6th among all AHL rookies in scoring with 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games. Howard also finished 3rd among AHL rookies with 24 goals and was named to the 2025-26 AHL All-Rookie Team in mid-April.

Helping Fans Forget About Sam O’Reilly

News of Howard being named to Team USA comes on the heels of Oilers prospect Sam O’Reilly being named the Ontario Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player. A Hobey Baker Award winner, Howard was acquired by Oilers general manager Stan Bowman from the Tampa Bay Lightning last season in a trade for O’Reilly. Although Howard posted just five points in a limited role in 29 games for the Oilers this season, he made a splash with the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, where he was also named the AHL Player of the Month for December.

The USA team will assist in Howard’s development

Team USA enters the World Hockey Championship as the defending gold medal champions. While the team is loaded with young players and prospects, including Sam Lafferty, Matt Coronato, and Devin Cooley, Team USA also features two-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Matthew Tkachuk. This could be a great opportunity for Howard to learn from Tkachuk, who finds himself in a leadership role on Team USA.

Expectations Are High for Howard to Make Oilers Next Season

Howard’s strong rookie season in the AHL has elevated him to the top of the Oilers’ list of NHL-ready prospects. Similar to Matt Savoie, who spent the 2024-25 season in the AHL and became an NHL regular in 2025-26, expectations are high for Howard to do the same.

Some media experts believe Howard could also be used as a valuable trade piece this offseason in the Oilers’ bid to add top-notch veterans to the roster for the 2026-27 season.

Good news for an off season full of negativity

The news of Howard being named to Team USA is really good for the Oilers. After the Oilers’ first round loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the situation in Oil Country was as sour as it had been in years. From finding a legitimate starting goaltender to Evan Bouchard being left off the Norris Trophy finalists list, news of Howard playing in the World Hockey Championship is a breath of fresh air in a market filled with negativity right now.

Hope That Keeps Getting Better

Howard continues to prove that he was a smart pickup by the Oilers. With a strong showing in his rookie season in the AHL and awarded a spot on Team USA’s World Championship roster, Howard is expected to be a full-time NHL player next season. Whether he is listed with Oilers veterans like Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains to be seen. Oilers fans should have a better idea of ​​where Howard fits in when August and September roll around.

NHL Ready

One thing Oilers brass can be sure of is that Howard will be ready to contribute in the 2026-27 season. He’s proven himself to be NHL-ready with a strong rookie season in the AHL, and it should be exciting to see what he does for Team USA at the World Hockey Championship.