Could Isaac Howard or Matt Savoie break Edmonton Oilers' Calder Trophy curse?

New York Times

09-07-2025

In just shy of 45 NHL seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have produced some of the most brilliant first-year players in league history. Despite names like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl playing their rookie seasons in Edmonton, no Oilers player has won the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year.
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From rule changes specifically designed to exclude Gretzky to injuries that derailed McDavid's rookie year, it has been a baffling journey. Throw in some wayward voting (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was robbed), and we are here.
All of which brings us to Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard. The young wingers are the latest hope for an Edmonton player to win the award, with positive indicators everywhere. Can either win the Calder Trophy this season?
When it comes to rookie right wingers, the Oilers crop in 1980-81 ranks with the all-time best for an NHL team. Jari Kurri (75 games, 32-43-75) and Glenn Anderson (58 games, 30-23-53) were instant plug-and-play impact wingers and would go on to Hall of Fame careers.
Savioe is unlikely to reach those heights, but is trending in a positive direction. Using points per game at each level, and comparing his career to Oilers right wingers over the last 15 years, we get some good indicators for the young forward.
All numbers via hockeydb
Savoie delivered the strongest WHL season in the group, an exceptional campaign at age 19. Last season's AHL points per game ranks first as well, although Jordan Eberle skipped the minors and came right to the NHL.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman cleared the decks on right wing for Savoie (or high-octane Swedish league forward David Tomasek) this summer. Edmonton walked 75 percent of last year's depth chart (Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown and Corey Perry) via trade and free agency, giving the position a fresh look.
If Savoie can find his way at even strength early in the NHL season, there's a chance he gets five-on-five time with McDavid or Draisaitl. Zach Hyman's injury calls his availability at the start of the year into question. It may allow the rookie to get a push. Even if his scoring is shy early, helping his line deliver more than 50 percent of the goal share (as he did in Bakersfield) would allow him to stay in the lineup.
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If he can post offence in that role, there's an outside chance he sees power-play time. It's rare for an Oilers rookie to get substantial minutes. In the last 10 seasons (beginning with McDavid's rookie year, 2015-16), only McDavid has scored more than five points (3-11-14 in 45 games) among freshman forwards, via NHL.com. Savoie probably needs some time with the man advantage to have a chance at the Calder.
Oilers fans are familiar with Savoie, but not much is known about the newly acquired Howard. Bowman traded for him Tuesday night in a one-for-one deal for right-handed centre prospect Sam O'Reilly. The deal was followed immediately by the announcement that Howard had signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Edmonton.
Howard is a pure goal scorer and a welcome addition to the Oilers' depth chart at left wing. He was identified by scouting sources as being a gifted goal scorer before the 2022 draft, when he was taken No. 31 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. His draft day scouting reports all involved discussion of his scoring prowess:
Howard was noticeable on draft day for his numbers, highlight package and unique suit. He earned the nickname 'Ice Man' during his time with the U.S. National Team Development Program, and progressed as a goal scorer through three NCAA seasons. He scored six goals as a freshman, eight as a sophomore and blossomed during his junior year with 26 goals for Michigan State. His final NCAA season in 2024-25 featured exceptional scoring highlights and a lot of buzz about Howard turning pro.
In the early hours after the deal, the hype was strong about Howard's ability to make the leap to the NHL next season. It's fair to look at some of the verbal with a critical eye, but there's a player here, and Howard's main skill (goal scoring) is going to get him a long look.
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Bowman didn't clear the decks on left wing in the way the right wing saw movement, but the Oilers ran Vasily Podkolzin (eight goals in 82 games) on Draisaitl's line for much of last season. Howard will stand out in the crowd as a quality goal-scoring prospect this fall.
Savoie and Howard are important players for a team that badly needs young, inexpensive skill to blossom and become part of the future. The trade by Bowman resets the youth on this roster in a most productive way. High-end, young talent on value deals is exactly what this team required, giving the coaching staff myriad options for the skill lines.
No one should expect both to thrive immediately, so the idea of a rookie of the year award is no easy sell in July. However, both men may have a chance to play with McDavid or Draisaitl, and that alone gives the duo an advantage over other Calder Trophy hopefuls.
Bowman is infusing the roster with badly needed youth and may have sewn the seeds for the one trophy that has eluded the Oilers organization for almost 45 seasons: the Calder.
(Photo of Matt Savoie: Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images)