2022 first-round pick Isaac Howard is entering an important season in the Oilers organization, as the 22-year-old will be expected to take a step forward and firmly claim an NHL role after a strong debut pro campaign in 2025-26. The Hobey Baker Award winner showed the offensive prowess he displayed in the NCAA could translate to the pro game, scoring 24 goals and 50 points in 47 games for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors last season. But NHL success proved more elusive, and he managed just two goals and five points in 29 games for the Oilers.
Looking ahead to next season, The Athletic’s Alan Mitchell wrote that the Oilers “should deploy Howard in a prominent role this season,” adding that the team’s “analytics department should be recommending that the coaching staff play Howard on a line with [Leon] Draisaitl.” A spot as a winger on Draisaitl’s line would certainly put Howard in a position to succeed at the NHL level. Draisaitl, 30, is one of the game’s best players and one of the league’s top playmakers. The 2019-20 Hart Trophy winner could bring out the most dynamic qualities in Howard’s game, and playing next to him could help Howard adjust quickly to a full-time NHL role. It’s unclear at this time, though, whether new head coach Mike Babcock will view Howard as a good fit next to his No. 2 center.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
On Friday, the ICEHL’s Vienna Capitals announced the signing of veteran goaltender Adam Reideborn to a tryout contract lasting until mid-October. Vienna’s incumbent goalies are managing injuries, so the Capitals indicated in their press release that Reideborn’s signing was made to ensure the club would be prepared for the start of the season. The 34-year-old is an extremely experienced netminder in Europe’s top leagues, and previously spent the last three seasons as the No. 1 goalie for Switzerland’s SC Bern. Reideborn posted a strong .919 save percentage in 35 league contests for Bern in 2025-26, and a .906 save percentage in seven games of Champions Hockey League action. Reideborn is a highly decorated goalie who was once the SHL’s Goalie of the Year and is a two-time Gagarin Cup Champion in the KHL. Even if he is only in the Austrian capital briefly, his presence in net should provide a big boost to a Capitals franchise that has struggled to build momentum in each of the last three years. The ICEHL side defeated Slovakia’s HK Dukla Trencin 3-0 in a preseason contest yesterday, and continue their preseason on Friday against league rivals Hydro Fehérvár AV19.
Top 2028 draft prospect Benjamin Veitch committed to play NCAA hockey at Boston College, confirming where he’ll continue his hockey journey after his QMJHL tenure with the Newfoundland Regiment concludes. The 16-year-old forward was the No. 5 pick in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft, and scored 11 goals and 21 points in 58 games in his rookie season with the team. Standing 6’3″, 201 pounds, Veitch is considered to be a power forward and Elite Prospects scout Lassi Alanen wrote in a game report last month that Veitch “looked like a potential first-rounder for 2028” playing against Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.