The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2026-27 NHL season with a new coach, several roster changes, and one intriguing opportunity for top prospect Isaac Howard. While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain the team’s offensive engines, questions remain about Edmonton’s lack of a true shooting winger outside of its superstar centers.
That need was highlighted by NHL analyst Jason Gregor during The Jason Gregor Show, where he suggested Howard could benefit from a roster construction that lacks a natural long-range finisher.
“I don’t see how Isaac Howard can’t have success if he comes in here, especially on a team that doesn’t really have a shooting winger,” Gegor said.
“Draisaitl’s their best shooter, and he’s a center iceman. Obviously, kind of plays that wing flank position on the power play, and he’s deadly. Zach Hyman’s a really good goal scorer from around the net, right? But he’s not what we’d call a shooter. He’s not beating you from distance very often.”
Gregor’s point reflects a gap that has existed in Edmonton’s forward group. The Oilers generate offense through elite playmaking and net-front scoring, but they have lacked a winger who consistently threatens goaltenders with a dangerous shot from the circles or off the rush.
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Isaac Howard’s skill set could fill a roster need
Howard arrives with an offensive pedigree that few prospects can match. Originally selected 31st overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 NHL Draft, he won the 2025 Hobey Baker Award after a standout season at Michigan State before Edmonton acquired him in exchange for Sam O’Reilly.
His first professional season offered mixed results. Howard recorded five points in 29 NHL games but flourished in Bakersfield, producing 24 goals and 26 assists in 47 AHL contests. His offensive play also earned him a spot with Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Those numbers suggest Howard’s scoring instincts remain intact despite an adjustment period in the NHL. With Edmonton projecting him into a middle-six role, he could finally receive consistent opportunities alongside more established playmakers.
Opportunity comes at the right time
The Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division with a 41-30-11 record before a disappointing first-round exit against the Anaheim Ducks. The playoff loss prompted major changes, including the dismissal of Kris Knoblauch and the hiring of Mike Babcock.
General manager Stan Bowman also reshaped the roster by adding Frederik Andersen, Devon Levi, Ryan Shea and several depth pieces. Even with those moves, Edmonton’s projected forward group still lacks an established winger known primarily for his shooting ability.
That leaves Howard with a realistic path to meaningful minutes. If he can translate the finishing touch he displayed in college and the AHL, he could become a different type of offensive weapon than the Oilers currently possess.
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Gregor’s assessment may prove accurate. Howard does not need to replace McDavid or Draisaitl’s production. He simply needs to provide a shooting threat that forces defenses to respect another scoring option. If he does, Edmonton’s revamped lineup could become more difficult to defend than it was a year ago.
