With one game remaining in the regular season, the Edmonton Oilers are without Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Janmark, Zach Hyman, Jason Dickinson, and Max Jones. Hyman could return for their final game, while Draisaitl is expected to return during Round 1 of the playoffs. Jones is out three to four weeks, Janmark is done for the season, and Dickinson is still to be determined.
These injuries present an opportunity for other players to take on more responsibility. Isaac Howard was recalled from the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL) on April 12, and he was in the lineup on Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche. This was his 29th game of the NHL season, with two goals and five points in that span.
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He was slotted on the second line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic. However, knowing head coach Kris Knoblauch, that meant nothing. The 22-year-old still finished the game with only 9:56 of ice time. He started the game great, registering three shots in the first period, his only shots of the contest. He was moving his feet and getting to the net. That was arguably his best period in the NHL. Unfortunately, Knoblauch didn’t reward him for his efforts.
This has been a theme with the Oilers’ bench boss. He relies too much on his veterans and doesn’t provide enough opportunities for young players. Howard should play more than Adam Henrique at this stage of his career. Howard is a skilled offensive player, but he hasn’t been allowed to show it. With key players injured, this was the ideal opportunity to provide him more minutes in various situations, but Knoblauch failed to do so.
Howard Should’ve Seen Power-Play Time
Without Draisaitl and Hyman, why didn’t Knoblauch give Howard a look on the power play? Outside of the game on Wednesday (April 8) against the San Jose Sharks, the power play has struggled without their top offensive weapons. They have used Matt Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, and Roslovic as replacements, with little success. They haven’t found something that works, so experimenting with Howard would do no harm.
Howard’s shot is his best attribute, and apart from Evan Bouchard, Edmonton doesn’t have a pure shooter on the top unit. The Oilers had an extended 5-on-3 in the third period, tied at one, and they didn’t capitalize. They were too passive and didn’t deliver enough pucks to the net.
Howard would’ve solved that problem. He loves to shoot, and there’s a ton of space during a two-man advantage to create and get shots through. He could’ve been used as a one-time option, similar to Draisaitl. However, he wasn’t even used on the second unit during their rare shift.
Howard Should’ve Had an Overtime Shift
Howard should’ve also had an overtime shift. Connor McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins started the extra frame, followed by Savoie and Roslovic. Then, Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen jumped over the boards. Kapanen took a goaltender interference penalty. The Finnish winger has had a brutal last five games and shouldn’t have been rewarded with an overtime shift.
Howard’s speed could’ve been a valuable asset in overtime. Instead, Knoblauch played it safe, as he usually does, and went with predictable options. While Podkolzin has had a fantastic season, his game doesn’t mesh well with 3-on-3. Despite being a hard worker, he lacks the necessary puck-handling skills to excel in the extra frame. Howard has the speed, the shot, and the puck skills to thrive in that environment.
Puck touches are crucial for a skilled young player, and he would have had plenty on the man advantage and in overtime. He needs to gain confidence to enhance his creativity, and there’s no better way to do that than in these different situations.
Howard has worked diligently in the AHL to refine his offensive game while improving the defensive side, only to play under 10 minutes in Knoblauch’s system. Something needs to change with how the coach utilizes young talent. He must give young players enough opportunity to learn from his mistakes, because that’s the only way they’ll improve.
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