A genuine door was just opened for Isaac Howard and a few other Edmonton Oilers prospects this week.
Howard, Quinn Hutson, and Josh Samanski were identified by general manager Stan Bowman as players who may contend for a starting position in the regular season.
Injuries to Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen, who are both anticipated to miss time before camp, directly create that opportunity.
Howard scored only 5 points in 29 games during his debut NHL season despite allegedly tearing up the AHL with 50 points in 47 games for Bakersfield.
Samanski added two more in five playoff games last season, totaling four points in 24 games. These are significant NHL minutes he can use as a foundation for this camp.
Hutson has only scored 1 point in four NHL games thus far, but he is now a vital participant in this opportunity discussion.
All three are not locks. Right now, a congested, underperforming depth chart needs a fair and impartial competition.
How Important Are the AHL Names as Well as the NHL Regulars
In addition to the well-known individuals, Bowman also highlighted Aku Raty and Eduards Tralmaks as AHLers who may get actual training camp consideration.
This is a more comprehensive net than normal, and it indicates that Edmonton genuinely desires competition rather than giving out places solely on the basis of reputation.
Given how much Edmonton needs scoring depth behind its star players, Howard’s AHL scoring prowess makes him the name to keep a close eye on.
Since he has already demonstrated that he can manage high-stress moments, Samanski’s playoff experience from the previous spring also provides him with a significant advantage.
Will this camp fight provide a definitive solution, or will it merely postpone the actual decision until injuries compel Edmonton to act? Perhaps some of each.
Regardless, training camp just became a lot more intriguing for a group of players who desperately needed this kind of opportunity.
