Isaac Howard's knee is the concern for the Oilers after a hyperextension, with an MRI set for Sunday.
Dr. Harjas Grewal weighed in Saturday on what the injury could mean. He said Howard's knee went into hyperextension, which can cause a torn ACL, a torn PCL, a bone bruise, or some combination of the three.
That list runs from a few missed games to a season in jeopardy. Nobody outside the Oilers' medical staff knows where Howard falls yet.
The hit that put the knee in question is already part of the story. Emil Heineman's major for kneeing Isaac Howard came with a game misconduct, so the on-ice punishment was swift.
Whether the league wants a closer look is a separate question. The department of player safety has plenty to review when a knee is involved.
Howard has played 13 games this season, with 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points. He also has a power-play goal among them.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Career | 42 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -6 |
Over his NHL career, the 22-year-old has 42 games played, 3 goals and 8 points. Those are modest numbers, but he is still building his résumé.
He was drafted 31st overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022. A knee injury at this point of a young career is the last thing a player in his position needs.
Grewal noted that the best outcome would be healthy ligaments and a bone bruise, which would mean something closer to day-to-day or week-to-week.
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What an MRI could change for Howard and Edmonton
The imaging will separate a short absence from a long one. A bone bruise leaves room for a quick return, while a ligament tear would force the Oilers to rework their forward group.
Grewal framed it as a hope, not a prognosis. Reading anything more into a hyperextension before the scan is guesswork.
Howard has no injury listing yet, and that will almost certainly change once the club says something. Until then, his status is unclear.
Any lineup shuffle depends entirely on Sunday's results. If the news is bad, Edmonton will need to find a replacement for a winger who has chipped in on the power play this season.
The MRI is the next hard fact, and it arrives Sunday.
Should the league suspend Emil Heineman for the knee hit on Isaac Howard?
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