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Isaac Howard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Isaac Howard
Howard with the Bakersfield Condors in 2026
Born (2004-03-30) March 30, 2004 (age 22)
Hudson, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Edmonton Oilers
Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
National team  United States
NHL draft 31st overall, 2022
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 2025–present

Isaac Howard (born March 30, 2004) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He played college ice hockey at Michigan State and won the Hobey Baker Award in 2024–25.[1][2] He was drafted 31st overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

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Howard competed at the 2022 BioSteel All-American Game.[3] He was drafted in the first round, 31st overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 NHL entry draft.[4]

College

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Howard began his college ice hockey career for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs during the 2022–23 season. During his freshman season he recorded six goals and 11 assists in 35 games.[5]

Howard with Michigan State in 2024

On March 25, 2023, Howard announced he would transfer to Michigan State for the 2023–24 season. During his sophomore year he recorded eight goals and 28 assists in 36 games.[6]

During the 2024–25 season, in his junior year, he recorded 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games. During conference play he led the Big Ten Conference in scoring with 16 goals and 17 assists in 24 games.[7] Following the season he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Big Ten Scoring Champion.[8] He also won the Hobey Baker Award.[9] During the 2025 Big Ten tournament, he recorded three goals and two assists in two games, including the game-winning goal in double-overtime to help Michigan State win their second consecutive Big Ten tournament championship. He was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and Big Ten Tournament MVP.[10]

Professional

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On July 8, 2025, Howard's NHL rights were traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Sam O'Reilly.[11][12] He then signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Oilers, beginning during the 2025–26 season.[13] He scored his first NHL goal on October 21, in a 3–2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators.[14]

International play

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Howard with Team USA in 2026
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2025 Sweden/Denmark
Youth Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Lausanne
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Sweden
World U18 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Germany

Howard represented the United States at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics and won a silver medal.[15]

Howard represented the United States at the 2021 World U18 Championships, where he recorded one goal and three assists in five games.[16] He later represented the United States at the 2022 World U18 Championships, where he was the leading scorer for the United States, with six goals and five assists in six games and won a silver medal.[17]

On December 16, 2023, Howard was named to the United States roster to compete at the 2024 World Junior Championships. He recorded a team-leading seven goals and two assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[18]

Howard made his senior national team debut for the United States at the 2025 World Championship, where he recorded one assist in four games and helped the team win its first gold medal since 1933.[19]

On May 7, 2026, Howard was added to the United States roster for the 2026 World Championship.[20]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 U.S. National Development Team USHL 51 32 41 73 4 — — — — —
2021–22 U.S. National Development Team USHL 60 33 49 82 42 — — — — —
2022–23 University of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 35 6 11 17 25 — — — — —
2023–24 Michigan State University B1G 36 8 28 36 10 — — — — —
2024–25 Michigan State University B1G 37 26 26 52 10 — — — — —
2025–26 Edmonton Oilers NHL 29 2 3 5 12 — — — — —
2025–26 Bakersfield Condors AHL 47 24 26 50 12 3 0 4 4 0
NHL totals 29 2 3 5 12 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 United States U18 5th 5 1 3 4 0
2022 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 6 5 11 2
2024 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 7 2 9 0
2025 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 0 1 1 0
2026 United States WC 8th 8 3 1 4 2
Junior totals 18 14 10 24 2
Senior totals 12 3 2 5 2

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
College
All-Big Ten First Team 2025 [21]
Big Ten Scoring Champion 2025
Big Ten Player of the Year 2025
Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2025 [10]
Big Ten Tournament MVP 2025
Hobey Baker Award 2025 [9]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2025 [22]
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2026 [23]

References

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  1. ^ "Howard wins Hobey Baker Award as top NCAA men's hockey player". NHL.com. April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Isaac Howard wins 2025 Hobey Baker Award for top men's NCAA hockey player". Sportsnet. April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  3. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (December 26, 2021). "2022 BioSteel All-American Game rosters selected". NHL.com. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Wellens, Matt (July 7, 2022). "UMD men's hockey: Bulldogs incoming freshman Howard goes to Tampa Bay Lightning in first round of NHL Draft". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Gray, Tim (June 23, 2022). "Isaac Howard excited for NHL Draft before UMD hockey debut". bvmsports.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Sklar, Sam (March 25, 2023). "Michigan State makes transfer portal splash in NHL first-rounder Isaac Howard". The State News. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Big Ten Conference Announces Hockey Postseason Awards". BigTen.org. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Bott, Nathaniel (March 18, 2025). "MSU hockey's Howard is Big Ten Player of Year; Augustine is top goaltender". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Michigan State's Isaac Howard wins the 2025 Hobey Baker Award". uscho.com. April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Michigan State Wins the Big Ten Hockey Tournament". BigTen.org. March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  11. ^ "Lightning trade Hobey Baker winner Howard to Oilers". NHL.com. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Wenzel, Mtt (July 8, 2025). "Michigan State hockey loses nation's top player in NHL trade". MLive.com. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  13. ^ "RELEASE: Oilers acquire Howard from Lightning". NHL.com. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Fraser, Callum (October 21, 2025). "Walman's OT goal lifts Oilers past Senators". NHL.com. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  15. ^ Scheder-Bieschin, Gabrielle (January 22, 2020). "Men's Ice Hockey Team Secures Silver At Youth Olympic Games". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  16. ^ Spiegel, Jackie (April 26, 2021). "IIHF U18 Men's World Championship 2021: Rosters, NHL draft status, jersey numbers for all 10 teams". sportingnews.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  17. ^ Scheder-Baracchini, Peter (May 4, 2022). "5 Prospects Who Improved Draft Stock at World U18 Championship". thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (December 16, 2023). "Gauthier leads United States 2024 World Junior roster". NHL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  19. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (May 25, 2025). "U.S. men's hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "2026 U.S. Men's National Team Preliminary Roster Announced". USA Hockey. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  21. ^ "Big Ten Conference Announces Hockey Postseason Awards". BigTen.org. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  22. ^ "Boston College leads way with four 2024-25 All-Americans". USCHO.com. April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "AHL announces 2025-26 All-Rookie Team". AHL.com. April 15, 2026. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
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