Oilers believe Isaac Howard is NHL-ready, expect winger in opening night lineup for 2025-26

Seravalli highlighted how some scouts view O’Reilly, Oilersnation’s second-ranked prospect last summer, as a better long-term prospect, but he was a prospect likely a few years away from contributing to the NHL roster.

In one sense of the term, the Oilers have accelerated the development of a prospect, and are now set to have two players on entry-level contracts in their opening day lineup, with the team expecting Matthew Savoie to make the jump to the NHL. That’s a game-changer for the Oilers, as both players can step into the NHL as players within their top-nine.

While Howard isn’t a big body standing at 5’11, 190 lbs., Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis said in January, “the sharpshooter looks as confident as ever with the puck, and he’s physically stronger, too.” That’s good news for the winger, as there will undoubtedly be a learning curve for him jumping from the college ranks to the NHL.

According to PuckPedia, Howard’s entry-level contract will see him carry a $950,000 cap hit, earning a $885,000 base salary and $95,000 in a signing bonus in all three years. Each year will see his performance bonuses climb from $250,000 in year one, to $750,000 in year two and $1-million in year three.

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said earlier this summer a goal was for the team to get younger, and that’s one thing they’ll do with both Howard and Savoie being 21-years-old entering the lineup. Meanwhile, they let free agents Corey Perry (40), Connor Brown (31) and John Klingberg (32) signing with the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and the San Jose Sharks, respectively, while trading Evander Kane (33) to the Vancouver Canucks and Viktor Arvidsson (32) to the Boston Bruins.