Isaac Howard and a handful of other Edmonton Oilers prospects just got a real door opened for them this week.
General manager Stan Bowman named Howard, Quinn Hutson, and Josh Samanski as players who could push for a regular lineup spot this season.
That opportunity exists directly because of injuries to Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen, both expected to miss time heading into camp.
Howard managed just 5 points in 29 games during his rookie NHL season, though he reportedly tore up the AHL with 50 points in 47 games for Bakersfield.
Samanski posted 4 points in 24 games last season and added 2 more in 5 playoff games, real NHL minutes to build off heading into this camp.
Hutson has barely gotten a look so far, managing 1 point in just 4 NHL games, but he's now firmly part of this opportunity conversation too.
None of these three are locks. But an open competition is exactly what a crowded, underperforming depth chart needs right now.
Why the AHL names matter just as much as the NHL regulars
Bowman also flagged Aku Raty and Eduards Tralmaks as AHLers who could get real training camp looks alongside the more established names.
That's a wider net than usual, and it signals Edmonton genuinely wants competition rather than handing out spots based on reputation alone.
Howard's AHL scoring touch makes him the name worth watching closest, given how badly Edmonton needs scoring depth behind its top players.
Samanski's playoff experience last spring gives him a real edge too, since he's already shown he can handle pressure minutes.
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Is this camp battle going to produce a clear answer, or just delay the real decision until injuries force Edmonton's hand? Probably some of both.
Either way, training camp just got a lot more interesting for a group of players who needed exactly this kind of opening.
Who should get the first shot at a bigger Oilers role: Isaac Howard or Josh Samanski?
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