The Edmonton Oilers are flying high early in the 2026-27 NHL season. Edmonton has won eight of its first 10 games. They look like a strong Stanley Cup contender early on, especially with captain Connor McDavid on a generational run to begin the year.
It's certainly still early, but Edmonton's ambition is to win the Stanley Cup. Anything less than that would be seen as a failure by the Oilers organization. As a result, it would be no surprise to see Edmonton end up as a buyer on the trade market as time goes along.
Any major trade won't happen until much later in the season. However, there is room for some smaller trades in the lead-up to the second half of the season. That's where young forward Isaac Howard enters this conversation.
The Oilers traded for Howard last summer in a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. At the time, it was seen as a shrewd move on behalf of the Oilers. Howard was a young, unsigned prospect who appeared to be NHL-ready.
However, he has not exactly fit in as the team hoped. He entered this season as a candidate for a top-six role. Now, he's either on the fourth line or in the press box. The Athletic recently named him as a potential trade candidate for the Oilers.
“With several injured forwards nearing a return, Howard’s spot in the lineup is also in jeopardy. While the 22-year-old winger is skilled and hardworking and holds value on an entry-level contract, the win-now Oilers don’t have years to wait for an extended development,” Janson Duench wrote.
With this in mind, here is a look at two landing spots that make sense for Howard on the trade market.
Oilers' Isaac Howard would be good pickup for Flames
The Calgary Flames are certainly a strange trade partner for the Oilers. The Battle of Alberta is one of the more intense hockey rivalries historically speaking. But in this day and age, it feels like this is less of a concern for many teams.
Howard is young, and as Duench pointed out, is on his rookie contract. The Flames would be able to add a young center who can fill in a crucial role for this team. And he would be under team control for many years.
What the Oilers would want in return obviously remains to be seen. Perhaps a trade for Joel Farabee could work, if Farabee continues putting up points. Veteran defenseman Zach Whitecloud could also make a bit of sense. In any event, the Flames are certainly a team that could be after Howard if he becomes available on the trade market.
Article Continues BelowBlackhawks could take a flier
The Chicago Blackhawks want to take steps forward sooner rather than later. However, they aren't in a spot where adding a young talent like Howard is something they can't afford. Chicago can still be patient with his development while also looking to compete in the coming years.
The Blackhawks have a plethora of young talent to trade if the Oilers want more of a “hockey” trade. If not, there are some veterans that could be in play. Chicago and Edmonton are also familiar trade partners. They made two deals with each other in 2025-26.
The Oilers and Blackhawks are at opposite ends of the competitive spectrum. Going from a Cup contender to a work in progress would be a bit hard for Howard to come to terms with. At the same time, it may be what he needs to establish himself as an NHL regular.