Isaac Howard just got put on notice by his own general manager. The Edmonton Oilers boss says the winger has a real shot to push for a roster spot.
Stan Bowman named names on Saturday, and Howard's was one of the first out of his mouth.
Howard is 22 and carries a $950,000 cap hit. He posted 5 points in 29 games last season, with 2 goals and 3 assists.
Not a loud number. But that's the point of camp. You don't earn a job on last year's stat line alone.
Bowman also singled out Quinn Hutson and Josh Samanski as forwards who could push for regular minutes this fall.
Hutson appeared in just 4 games last season, scoring once, including a game-winner. Samanski put up 4 points in 24 games before adding 2 more in 5 playoff appearances.
None of the three forced their way into a full-time NHL job last year. That's exactly why this is a story now and not a formality.
Babcock inherits a crowded bottom-six competition
New head coach Mike Babcock takes over an Edmonton bench for the first time since being hired in June. He's the one who ultimately decides who sticks.
That's a wrinkle worth watching. A fresh voice behind the bench means fresh evaluations, and none of these three forwards have built up equity with him yet.
Bowman didn't stop at the NHL fringe names, either. He mentioned Aku Raty and Eduards Tralmaks as AHL forwards who could get a longer look in camp too.
That's five names for what amounts to a handful of open bottom-six jobs. Somebody walks away disappointed.
Edmonton finished 41-30-11 last season, 93 points, 14th overall and second in the Pacific. A goal differential that thin doesn't leave much room for cheap forward spots to go to waste.
The Oilers have McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard eating a combined $37 million against the cap. Everything else has to be found on the margins.
Howard, Hutson and Samanski are exactly that kind of margin play. Cheap, controllable, and now publicly on the GM's radar heading into camp.
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Whether Babcock sees it the same way Bowman does is the part nobody can answer yet.
Should Isaac Howard make the Oilers' opening night roster this fall?
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