Less than a month ago, I wrote about the impact rookie pro winger Ike Howard was having on the AHL Bakersfield Condors. I suggested the Oilers might want to consider recalling the Condors’ entire No. 1 line from the minors in order to ignite the offence on Edmonton’s depth lines.
A few weeks later, one of Howard’s linemates, Quinn Hutson, did get the call to the NHL and played well. Meanwhile, Howard is learning in the AHL and making the adjustments required to land permanently as an NHL player.
Howard is an elite offensive winger in the AHL, and his time with the Condors is beginning to take on historic proportions. The young phenom is posting offensive totals that rival some of the best players in Oilers minor-league history. Some of those names went on to stardom.
Goals per game
Howard scored nine goals in 14 AHL games leading up to the Christmas break. At 21, he’s among the most outstanding young scorers who have played for an Edmonton farm team. The gold standard? Miro Satan, who was 20 in 1994-95. Satan scored 24 goals in 25 games for the Cape Breton Oilers before graduating to the NHL the following season.
Those Cape Breton teams of the early 1990s featured several forwards with high goal-scoring rates. Aside from Satan, names like Steven Rice, Dan Currie and Ralph Intranuovo shone during those years. Some of those early 1990s Oilers farm teams averaged over four goals per game, whereas Bakersfield currently averages around 3.5 per game.
Since 2000, here are the top scorers among Oilers farmhands, using forwards in their entry-level deals and ranking by goals per game:
PlayerAgeYearGoals-Game
Ike Howard
21
2025-26
0.64
Dylan Holloway
21
2023-24
0.56
Raphael Lavoie
22
2023-24
0.42
Marc Pouliot
21
2006-07
0.42
Raphael Lavoie
21
2022-23
0.41
Anton Lander
22
2013-14
0.39
Michel Riesen
21
2000-01
0.38
Jason Chimera
21
2000-01
0.37
J-F Jacques
20
2005-06
0.37
via hockeydb
Howard and Dylan Holloway are the two forwards who scored more than 0.5 goals per game in the AHL over the last 25 years. That line in the sand doesn’t represent a dividing line for an NHL career, but for Oilers forwards during their entry-level deals, the only outlier (overcoming lower goal totals and having an NHL career) was Jason Chimera. His ticket to the show came via exceptional speed, playmaking skill and good size, but Chimera didn’t play much on NHL skill lines over his 1,107-game NHL career.
Points-per-game
Howard is showing some unique playmaking qualities in the minors. Edmonton fans are familiar with wingers who can create at a high level (Taylor Hall is the best example over the last 25 years), and this may be an area of growth for Howard once he reaches the NHL. His scouting report talks about his offensive creativity, and it’s showing already. Since 2000, here are the playmakers among Oilers farmhands, using forwards in their entry-level deals and ranking by assists per game:
PlayerAgeYearAssists-Game
Cooper Marody
21
2018-19
0.78
Tyler Benson
20
2018-19
0.75
Anton Lander
22
2013-14
0.74
Tyler Benson
22
2020-21
0.72
Ike Howard
21
2025-26
0.71
Rob Schremp
21
2007-08
0.68
Jason Chimera
22
2001-02
0.66
Viljami Marjala
22
2025-26
0.63
Peter Sarno
21
2000-01
0.58
via hockeydb
This is a more varied group of names, with several centres and a few wingers. The group that missed making the NHL lacked foot speed, with Howard and Chimera (who made it) delivering in that area as well as producing points. Howard’s ability to impact the game as a playmaker and shooter, along with his foot speed that has him in the 91st percentile among NHL players, suggests he’s a lock for a productive NHL career.
Now, let’s look at that two-way progress.
Goal share at even strength
Over the last several years, Eric Rodgers has tracked even-strength goals for Oilers farm teams. Here’s a look at the forwards (again, entry-level) who delivered impressive goal shares in the discipline.
PlayerAgeYearEV Goal Pct
Ike Howard
21
2025-26
76
Kailer Yamamoto
20
2018-19
69
Tyler Benson
20
2018-19
69
Matt Savoie
20
2024-25
65
Dylan Holloway
21
2023-24
64
All numbers via Eric Rodgers
Howard is lapping the field in even-strength goal share, and that’s an impressive group of players. Most made the NHL and are establishing themselves as quality NHL players. A team’s overall goal share varies from year to year, so the comparison can’t be a direct one, but it’s interesting to see just how much Howard delivers on the ice compared to when he’s at rest.
Howard’s totals are outstanding (19-6 goals), while the Condors without him (48-66, 42 percent) aren’t close to playoff level. That’s a major gap, one that towers over some of the other names on the list. As an example, Matt Savoie’s 65 percent share at even strength was much better than the team without him (48 percent), but Bakersfield was only slightly below average.
Who’s zooming who?
The Condors have an impact line that contains Howard, centre Josh Samanski and Hutson. The trio have been on a tear since being put together shortly after Howard arrived in the AHL. There was some discussion about Hutson being the driver of the line, but Howard flourished while Hutson was in the NHL.
In the three games away from Hutson, Howard scored three goals and added three assists, while the team outscored opponents 6-1 at even strength when he was on the ice. The numbers don’t lie; Howard is driving the line and has been for much of the time he has been in Bakersfield. There is no prospect currently in Bakersfield with his talent level.
What’s next?
The Oilers are on a roll currently, and there are several quality players about to come back from injury. There’s no chance Howard sees a recall anytime soon, and there are lessons to learn. He shoots the defensive zone too early and needs to learn a more structured game that he will take with him to the NHL next time.
When he gets there, chances are Howard will stay. There are opportunities for him on the current roster, and as Savoie’s rookie season with the Oilers proves, time in the AHL can benefit both player and team as it pertains to responsible play.
Howard is posting outstanding offence, some of the most impressive totals in decades, while also helping the Condors outscore at even strength. He’s not yet an NHL player, but the numbers suggest he will have an impact when he makes the NHL to stay. In the meantime, he has joined elite company in delivering impressive offence in Bakersfield.
