Oilers’ Ike Howard Reveals Game Plan for Playing With McDavid

As the Edmonton Oilers go out on the road for back-to-back games against the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks, the team is giving rookie forward Isaac “Ike” Howard a major opportunity. Howard will be slotted alongside Connor McDavid on the team’s top line. Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Friday that Howard would start there, saying he’s earned the opportunity with his recent play and obvious growth over the past few games.

Knoblauch didn’t mince words when he said that Howard was giving the puck up too often early in the season. Now that he’s figured out the speed a little better and is getting adjusted to the league, Howard has taken serious strides.

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Knoblauch emphasized that he does talk to young players about playing in different positions but he’s not looking to overwhelm Howard. Elevating the winger is not about changing his style. “With him being so young and his style of game… the best thing is often to just let him play,” the coach said. “We’re putting him there because he’s been playing some pretty good hockey. We don’t want him doing anything different.” Howard echoed that sentiment: “No pressure from the coach or anything like that. It’s just pretty much just play the same game… really nothing else is different.” Whether he’s on the fourth line or the first, Howard believes he’s getting chances because he’s playing a certain kind of game, just a better version of it as time goes along.

For Howard, he sees getting this opportunity as a confidence boost. “It’s awesome,” he said. “As a young player, all you can ask for is an opportunity. I’m just trying to play my game, keep working hard, and build off it.”

As for what he intends to do, the game plan seems simple enough — rely on McDavid’s elite playmaking. “He’s the best player in the world. He plays with so much pace. I just try to get open — he’ll find me,” Howard said.

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