Oilersnation’s Summer 2025 Prospect Countdown – No. 2: Isaac Howard

Born in Hudson, Wisconsin, Howard joined the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2020-21 after playing at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. He recorded 11 goals and 37 points in the USHL in 2021-22 and boosted his draft stock at the U18 World Juniors, where he tied for third in tournament scoring with 11 points in six games while helping Team USA win silver.

Here’s how Elite Prospects summed up Howard’s game in their 2022 Draft Guide:

“Right away, Howard’s skating stands out. Pushes his knees past his toes, engaged his hips, and maintains his posture in tight, while deking, or on the backcheck. His top hand moves freely around his body, which he turns into incredible stickhandling displays. When handling, he’s scanning. Adjusts body positioning to get pressure on his back, then uses hesitations and changes of pace to slip around the check.”

The Tampa Bay Lightning took Howard with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 draft, one spot ahead of where the Oilers took winger Reid Schaefer with their first selection.

Howard joined the University of Minnesota-Duluth for his freshman season in 2022-23, scoring six goals and 17 points in 35 games for a team that finished with a 16-20-1 record. After the underwhelming campaign, he transferred to Michigan State University.

The move paid off. In 2023-24, Howard tallied 36 points in 36 games and helped lead the Spartans to their first-ever Big Ten Championship (and first conference title since 2006) with an overtime win over rival Michigan in the final. That same season, he also played a starring role for the United States at the World Juniors in Sweden, tying for the tournament lead in scoring with seven goals in seven games. Howard scored twice in the gold medal game to help spark a 6-2 win over the host nation.

Success continued in 2024-25. Howard appeared in four games at the World Championship, where the U.S. won its first gold medal since 1933, and he dominated again at the NCAA level, scoring 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games to rank fifth in the nation. Michigan State finished 26-7-4, captured their second straight Big Ten title, and Howard sealed the championship with the double-overtime winner against Ohio State.

While many NCAA players turned pro in the spring, Howard didn’t sign with Tampa Bay. Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts in April that the two sides “didn’t see eye to eye” on his development. Under the CBA, Tampa held Howard’s rights through August 2026, leaving them the choice to trade him or risk losing him for nothing.

The Oilers and Lightning struck a deal in early July, sending 2024 first-rounder Sam O’Reilly to Tampa Bay for Howard. A key piece on London’s back-to-back OHL championship teams and this spring’s Memorial Cup winner, O’Reilly is a top prospect himself, but Howard is closer to NHL-ready — a crucial factor for a contender in need of young impact players.

After the trade, Howard said he was grateful to the Lightning for working out a deal with Edmonton, noting that playing in Edmonton offers him an incredible opportunity.

“I’m super psyched,” Howard said on a Zoom press conference in July. “It’s such an unreal opportunity. I’m grateful Tampa was able to get this done. I can’t wait to get started.

“I met with Edmonton and this was probably the spot I wanted to go,” Howard added. “Just checks all my boxes. I knew somehow if it could happen, I would absolutely love it.”

While Tampa likely wanted Howard to spend time with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Oilers expect to have the young winger in their season-opening lineup come October. There are spots on the wings of both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl up for grabs at training camp in Edmonton this fall, and Howard is a candidate to play alongside one of the league’s top centres.

Howard already carries an impressive résumé — gold medals, conference titles, and clutch goals in big moments. The leap from college to the NHL is significant, and immediate success is never guaranteed, but he looks like a prospect who can help the Oilers sooner rather than later.

Top Prospects Countdown…

• Honourable Mentions
• No. 10: Eemil Vinni
• No. 9: Paul Fischer
• No. 8: Dalyn Wakely
• No. 7: William Nicholl
• No. 6: Maxim Beryozkin
• No. 5: Roby Jarventie
• No. 4: Beau Akey
• No. 3: Samuel Jonsson