Oilers loan Isaac Howard back to Bakersfield Condors

Isaac Howard won’t be sticking around long.

The Edmonton Oilers announced on Thursday that Howard is headed back to the Bakersfield Condors, officially loaned to the AHL club. With the Oilers injuries adding up, Edmonton called up Howard to play on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche.

He suited up and played a total of nine minutes and 56 seconds of ice time and was providing solid play in the first period. However, as the Oilers were tied with the Avs in the late stages, Howard didn’t see the ice much, not getting a shift in the last 14 minutes of the third period, plus overtime.

The decision comes as the Oilers are starting to get healthy bodies back in the lineup. Zach Hyman will suit up tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, and it’s hoped that Leon Draisaitl can return early in the first round of the playoffs.

The first-year pro in Howard has been an upper-echelon player in the American Hockey League this season. In fact, on Wednesday, the former Hobey Baker Award winner was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team, along with Condors teammate Quinn Hutson.

In 45 games in Bakersfield, Howard finished third on the Condors in goals with 22 and fourth in points with 47. His 1.04 points per game led all Bakersfield skaters and was 14th in the league amongst players with at least 40 games played.

That success hasn’t quite been seen at the NHL level yet. Monday’s contest against the Avalanche was his first NHL game since January, and he’s played a total of 29 games with the Oilers in 2025-26. He’s scored two goals for a total of five points.

Draisaitl has been ramping up at practice this week for a return, with Oilersnation’s Jason Gregor saying that if the Oilers finish as the second or third seed, then Edmonton won’t play until Monday. That could give even more time for a Draisaitl return.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said on Wednesday that Jason Dickinson will be evaluated again soon.