The Detroit Red Wings entered the offseason facing pressure to improve a roster that fell short of postseason expectations. General manager Steve Yzerman has made it clear that adding scoring depth remains a priority, particularly in the top six.
With ample salary-cap flexibility and several trade assets available, Detroit is exploring multiple avenues to address those needs.
As the team evaluates potential solutions, one name from the Edmonton Oilers organization has emerged as an intriguing possibility, creating fresh speculation about how Detroit could address its scoring concerns.
Isaac Howard Emerges as Potential Detroit Red Wings Trade Target
Among the players reportedly on Detroit’s radar is Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard, whose strong first AHL season has generated interest around the league.
In an offseason projection for The Athletic, Detroit insider Max Bultman outlined a scenario that would send goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa to Edmonton in exchange for Howard.
Bultman wrote, “The other notable add comes in the bottom six, with a trade for Ike Howard from Edmonton in exchange for Cossa.” He added that Edmonton represents “the most obvious fit” for a potential Cossa deal and noted that Howard “would bring some offense to the Red Wings’ bottom six.”
Howard’s appeal is easy to understand.
The 22-year-old winger captured the 2025 Hobey Baker Award after an outstanding collegiate career at Michigan State. Since turning pro, he has continued to show the offensive instincts that made him one of the most productive players in college hockey.
During the 2025-26 season with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, Howard recorded 50 points in 47 games, including 24 goals. He averaged 1.06 points per game, ranked among the league’s top rookie scorers, and earned AHL Player of the Month honors in December.
Howard also spent part of the season with Edmonton, appearing in 29 NHL games and registering five points while gaining valuable experience at the highest level.
The potential challenge for Detroit is determining whether Howard alone justifies moving a prospect of Cossa’s caliber. The Red Wings netminder is coming off a dominant campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins, posting a 26-8-4 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, and a .915 save percentage.
Bultman acknowledged that concern in his analysis, writing, “There’s also the question of whether Howard is enough of a return for Cossa, who is still a top goalie prospect. Howard’s AHL production this season was encouraging, but the positional value favors the goaltender here.”
This positional value remains central to the discussion.
Detroit needs offensive help, and Howard fits that profile as a cost-controlled winger with untapped scoring ability. However, elite goaltending prospects are difficult to acquire, and moving Cossa would leave the organization will require a second thought.
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For now, the trade remains speculative. Still, Howard’s name entering the conversation highlights Detroit’s determination to improve its forward group while giving Edmonton another potential path to strengthen its long-term goaltending outlook.
