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Sunday Scramble: There’s nothing wrong starting Isaac Howard in the Oilers top-six next season

Jul 12, 2026, 20:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 12, 2026, 20:44 EDT

My colleague Tyler Yaremchuk wrote a column this week arguing the Edmonton Oilers must use their current cap space to acquire a top-six winger.

I don’t feel that way, given some of the names suggested.

If you’re calling Vancouver, you’re calling about Brock Boeser, not about Jake DeBrusk. If you’re calling Detroit, you’re asking about Alex DeBrincat. If you’ve got Danny Briere on the phone, you’re talking about Owen Tippett.

Those are the types I’d consider spending assets on, but they wouldn’t be easy. The DeBrusks of the world, I’ll pass.

The Oilers don’t need to make a move just to make a move. While accruing cap space is attractive, Yaremchuk is right that they won’t have the assets to weaponize some $20-25 million in theoretical space.

I’m not convinced they don’t have the solution in the system already.

Give Isaac Howard a shot

For the last couple of years, there’s been an underlying notion that the Oilers don’t give runway to their young players to take spots on the roster. This led to a disgruntled Philip Broberg and a frustrated Dylan Holloway. This came up last year when Noah Philp was a healthy scratch after scoring and standing up for teammate Alec Regula.

At the 2024 NHL Draft, the organization decided to trade next year’s first pick so they could take Sam O’Reilly. Last summer, they flipped him for Isaac Howard.

Howard performed well in the AHL with occasional flashes of brilliance offensively, but we aren’t sure what he is at the NHL level.

However, it would be frustrating asset management if the Oilers traded Howard for less than a surefire stud. They must think highly of him if he’s worth a prospect who just a year before was seen as worth a Cup-contending team’s first-rounder.

I know Stan Bowman wasn’t the GM at that time, it was the Summer of Jeff (Jackson), but in the last three off-season cycles, Edmonton charted a course to get younger. Unless they’re sure, don’t steer from that course.

Last summer, before McDavid re-signed, there was a lot of chatter about the Oilers’ need to get younger in order for the superstar to re-sign. A summer from now, when McDavid can decide again, won’t that be the same question – do the Oilers give me the best chance to compete for Stanley Cups in the future?

And if that’s the question, then finding out what Howard is needs to happen. Howard could be the 20-goal, top-six winger the Oilers desperately need for under a million dollars the next two years.

Obviously, he could be just a guy, not hard enough to play against to succeed in the same way in the NHL.

We don’t know.

So I’m content to start the season to give Isaac Howard a shot. I understand the immense pressure there is to win next season. I know the temptation there is to push all the chips in and go for broke for the Stanley Cup.

One Cup would cure all.

But short of a guarantee, and there can’t be a guarantee, the Oilers still have to consider how the team would compete in 2031 as much as in 2027 when they re-enter McDavid contract talks.

If the expectation, like Stauffer suggests that he will sign a seven-year deal next time around, then what gives him the best chance to keep trying?

Patience can lead to opportunity

Now, like any trade, it’s a price and item proposition. If the price is right, you consider the deal.

But at this moment, I’m content with giving Isaac Howard a real chance. If he was worth Sam O’Reilly, who was worth trading a top asset for during the win-now Stanley Cup cycle, then it’s worth seeing this through. At least for 50 games.

Bowman has made considerations to get younger this off-season with the additions of Devon Levi and Shakir Mukhamadullin. The same with acquiring Matt Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, and Colton Dach, plus the European free agents. They’ve found creative ways to sprinkle youth to extend the runway.

So, as of today, could the Oilers improve the top-six? Yes.

But there’s no rush. The off-season is still early days. Just like Jack Roslovic slipped through the cracks, the contract staredowns of Anthony Mantha, Patrick Kane, and Vladimir Tarasenko have just begun. One could need a temporary home.

Duck soup

The Anaheim Ducks matched the Leo Carlsson offer sheet. No super surprise here.

What’s funny is that GM Pat Verbeek now must come up with the best pitch possible, or fear that hardball with his remaining RFA star, Cutter Gauthier, will capsize the books.

They can’t add a $13-14 million contract with their books nuked by Danny Briere.

Anaheim has a hair over $9 million in cap space and an AHL-laden blueline. I’m sure they’d love to move Frank Vatrano, entering year two of his three-year $4.571 million AAV deal. But his contract structure is enough to make teams pause.

Vatrano’s base salary is actually $6 million, but he has $3 million per year in deferred salary that will be paid out at 900K per year for 10 years beginning in 2035. He also has a modified no-trade clause with a seven-team no-trade list.

In 2023-24, Vatrano scored 37 goals and 60 points. Before the abysmal injury-plagued year that saw him collect just eight points in 50 games, Vatrano put up 45, 60, and 41 points, respectively, in the previous three seasons.

His buyout is team-friendly, though, with just $2 million against the cap for the next four seasons.

Bottom line: Verbeek is in a pickle of his own creation. He has to somehow roll back his internal contract structure without having much leverage to do it.

To my eyes, his blueline has a Spencer Stastney-shaped hole in it. Stan Bowman would be happy to help out. What’s a second-round pick amongst division rivals?

Notes:

It’s nice to see the Colton Dach bit of business done and even better that his number of $1.2 million was below his qualifying offer, according to PuckPedia. There’s still a raw element to his game, and that’s why I think he could be a 13th forward at times this season. We’ll see how Babcock likes him.
The Claude Giroux reporting got a little weird for a minute. The initial report from David Pagnotta came within minutes of the Flyers’ offer sheet. I wonder if one impacted the other. Otherwise, I’m not shocked Giroux stays. He seems comfortable in Ottawa. While maybe not the best use of assets, the Senators roster still looks playoff-worthy to me.
You may have missed the other big news out of Ottawa: they avoided arbitration with Xavier Bourgault. Give credit to Xav — he knew his worth bumping that minors salary up to $265,000.
As I alluded to above, I think Spencer Stastney is the glaringly obvious choice to ship out in the Oilers’ defensive logjam. At this point in his career, he’s just a replaceable player. It was telling that Nashville moved him for a third-round pick last season. He skates well. He could help a thin team, just like the Oilers were last season.
Congrats to our colleagues Ryder and Lisa on their royal wedding last night. I almost remember all of it…

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

Tyler’s Ace Race is back on July 13th!

After coming painfully close last year, Tyler Yaremchuk is stepping back onto the tee box for another shot at glory. On July 13th, Tyler’s Ace Race – The Revenge Tour – presented by bet365 returns to Cattail Crossing Golf Club, where Tyler will attempt to hit a hole-in-one over the course of a 24-hour live stream. The entire challenge will be broadcast live on YouTube as Tyler battles fatigue, pressure, and his own golf swing in pursuit of the elusive ace. Don’t miss out, this is going to be quite a show.