The Edmonton Oilers haven’t found their rhythm early in the season. While they picked up a crucial win over the Rangers on Tuesday, the forward group continues to struggle without injured Zach Hyman anchoring the top line.
With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl reunited on the same line, the Oilers have experimented with several new faces up front. However, after three games, one insider believes their latest call-up should be returned to the AHL.
Why Does an NHL Insider Want an Oilers Rookie to Be Sent to the Bakersfield Condors?
With Zach Hyman on long-term injured reserve since the season opener, the Oilers have struggled to find offensive depth. Head coach Kris Knoblauch has experimented by pairing McDavid and Draisaitl on the same line.
Meanwhile, Trent Frederic has been elevated to the first-line right-wing position. The Oilers also recalled forward Ike Howard from their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Through three games, Howard has yet to record a point.
While the Oilers remain patient with the prospect, insider Jeff Marek believes Howard should be returned to Bakersfield. He shared his assessment on the latest “Oilersnation Everyday” episode, joining host Tyler Yaremchuk.
“Can I say one thing about it? Ike Howard? Sure, a lot of solo missions from Ike Howard. I love him offensively. This guy’s going to be an excellent player in the NHL,” Marek said. However, while Marek acknowledged Howard’s potential, he believes the prospect needs more AHL experience.
Marek continued, “I think it’s probably the right move to say it. It’s time for some time in Bakersfield. They have, like, a player number crunch coming anyhow, but just watching that yesterday, it really, really becomes apparent that passing at this is an issue.”
The insider believes Howard’s passing and playmaking need refinement before he can contribute consistently at the NHL level. His performance against New York reinforced that assessment. While Howard excels offensively, additional development time in Bakersfield would benefit his overall game.
According to Marek, prospects should spend time in the AHL to adapt to the professional playing style. He cited the Islanders’ approach with Calum Ritchie as an example. Marek believes 30 games provide sufficient evaluation time before determining if a player is ready for promotion.
“Go tear up the American League, and then come up and force your general manager to make a difficult decision,” Marek said. “It’ll pay off. The kid’s so talented, but the NHL is hard and not a development league.”
While the Oilers have not made a decision, Marek believes returning Howard to the AHL would accelerate his development.