<p>There’s a lot of buzz in Oil Country right now about the Edmonton Oilers&#8217; newly acquired prospect <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/its-such-an-unreal-opportunity-isaac-howard-excited-to-play-for-oilers">Isaac Howard,</a> and rightfully so.</p>
<p>The 2025 Hobey Baker winner has a very quick release, having scored 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games last season as an offensive dynamo with Michigan State University. By all accounts, the former first-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft looks like he’ll be given every opportunity to fill a role in the Oilers’ top six next season.</p>
<p>With the chance to play alongside Connor McDavid in 2025-26, Oilers fans can’t wait to see the impact Howard might have in his rookie year, as there’s potential for him to rank among the best rookie seasons in Oilers history. Having said that, below we’ll highlight ten of the franchise’s best rookie seasons and explore how Howard’s first NHL campaign could stack up against them.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Jari Kurri</h2>
<p>When the Oilers selected <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-former-oiler-jari-kurri-named-borje-salming-courage-award-winner">Jari Kurri</a> 69th overall in the fourth round of the 1980 NHL Draft, few could have predicted he’d become a Hall of Famer and mainstay on <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/on-this-day-in-1984-wayne-gretzky-becomes-fastest-in-nhl-history-to-reach-1000-points">Wayne Gretzky’s</a> wing for years (as a side note, Gretzky isn’t on this list because he wasn’t officially considered a rookie in his first year in Edmonton due to his previous WHA experience).</p>
<p>That said, Kurri played three years prior in Finland’s top league with Jokerit Helsinki and quickly adapted to the North American game. Near the end of the season, he started playing with Gretzky more regularly, finishing with 75 points (32G, 43A) in 75 games. Unfortunately, Kurri wasn’t nominated for the Calder Trophy that season. Peter Stastny took the honour with 109 points, but Kurri’s 75 points still stand as the most by an Oilers rookie.</p>
<h2>Glenn Anderson</h2>
<p>Hall of Famer <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/on-this-day-in-1979-the-edmonton-oilers-draft-hall-of-famers-kevin-lowe-mark-messier-and-glenn-anderson">Glenn Anderson</a> was drafted 69th overall in the fourth round of the 1979 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut a year later during the 1980–81 season. He recorded 53 points in 55 games, and out of his 30 goals, five were game-winners and three were scored shorthanded. He also stepped up in the playoffs with 12 points (5G, 7A) in nine games. Anderson finished 11th in Calder Trophy voting that season, with the award going to stud D-man Ray Bourque.</p>
<h2>Grant Fuhr</h2>
<p>Netminder <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-mount-rushmore-the-best-goaltenders-in-team-history">Grant Fuhr</a> was drafted by the Oilers 8th overall in the 1981 Draft, and his Hall of Fame career began during the 1981–82 season, when he took the starter’s job away from veteran Ron Low. He<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-set-nhl-record-for-best-single-season-power-play-success-rate"> posted an incredible 28-5-14 record</a> and tied for second in the NHL in wins.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A rookie Grant Fuhr making saves all over the place in the Forum.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oilers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oilers</a> <a href="https://t.co/VYEncXh9Ci">pic.twitter.com/VYEncXh9Ci</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Vintage Oilers (@VintageOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/VintageOilers/status/1044601877776584711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>His 28 victories set a club record for most wins by a rookie at the time, and he also appeared in the NHL All-Star Game. That season, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/will-stuart-skinner-win-edmonton-oilers-first-calder-trophy">Fuhr finished third in Calder Trophy voting</a>, behind Winnipeg Jets forward Dale Hawerchuk, who recorded 103 points. In addition to his Calder finish, Fuhr placed second in Vezina Trophy voting, losing out to the New York Islanders’ Billy Smith.</p>
<h2>Jason Arnott</h2>
<p>The Oilers drafted<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-100-oilers-jason-arnott-42"> Jason Arnott</a> 7th overall in the 1993 NHL Draft, their highest selection in 12 years at the time. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound centerman finished the 1993–94 season with 68 points (33G, 35A) in 78 games, ranking second on the team behind <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-100-oilers-doug-weight-10">Doug Weight</a> (74 points), and also racked up 104 penalty minutes. Of his 33 goals, 10 came on the power play and four were game-winners. Arnott became the first Oiler rookie to finish in the top two in Calder Trophy voting, with <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-55-0-honouring-brodeur">Martin Brodeur</a> winning the award.</p>
<h2>Sam Gagner</h2>
<p><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-2023-24-player-review-sam-gagner">Sam Gagner</a> was drafted sixth overall by the Oilers in the 2007 NHL Draft and made an immediate impression as one of the youngest players in the league during the 2007–08 season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We had load management for our draft picks too sheesh we loaded up Sam Gagner with an 79 game season as a rookie and he managed to get 49 points</p>
<p>&mdash; Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1728973733283651877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Gagner finished his rookie campaign with 49 points (13G, 36A), ranking third on the Oilers that season. He developed chemistry on &#8216;<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/a-look-inside-how-the-edmonton-oilers-blew-it-with-robert-nilsson-and-set-off-a-series-of-bad-trades">The Kid Line</a>’ with fellow rookie Andrew Cogliano, who posted 45 points, and Robert Nilsson. Gagner played in the NHL Young Stars game and was named Rookie of the Month in February after recording 13 points in 12 games. His efforts earned him a 7th-place finish in Calder Trophy voting, with his former London Knights teammate <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/patrick-kane-and-what-he-tells-us-about-sam-gagner">Patrick Kane</a> winning the award that season.</p>
<h2>Jordan Eberle</h2>
<p>Edmonton drafted <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/fourteen-years-ago-today-edmonton-oilers-draft-jordan-eberle">Jordan Eberle</a> 22nd overall in the 2008 NHL Draft and made his debut during the 2010–11 season, and what a debut it was. In his first NHL game, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/40-edmonton-oilers-moments-jordan-eberle-scores-a-beauty-in-his-nhl-debut">he scored a highlight-reel goal</a> against the Calgary Flames, toe-dragging around a defender and roofing a shorthanded backhander over Mikko Kiprusoff.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">6 years ago today Jordan Eberle produced arguably the greatest first NHL goal of all-time 😱🔥 <a href="https://t.co/egsbnSTUEy">pic.twitter.com/egsbnSTUEy</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/784403230163742720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>He recorded 43 points (18G, 25A) in 69 games, and despite missing some time due to an ankle injury, he led the Oilers that season in points, game-winning goals (five), and shorthanded goals. He placed 15th in Calder Trophy voting.</p>
<h2>Taylor Hall</h2>
<p>The 2010 first overall pick by the Oilers, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-revisiting-series-edmonton-oilers-fall-for-taylor-hall">Taylor Hall,</a> made his NHL debut alongside teammate Eberle during the 2010–11 season. A two-time Memorial Cup champion and MVP with the Windsor Spitfires, Hall was seen as the centrepiece of the rebuild and the future face of the franchise and led the Oilers in his rookie season with 22 goals and finished tied for second with 42 points.</p>
<p>Hall was selected to participate in the NHL All-Star SuperSkills Competition and finished second in the fastest skater event behind Michael Grabner. However, his season ended early after he recorded <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/injuries-happen">his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick</a> in March, by scoring a goal, recording an assist, but during a fight with Columbus Blue Jackets’ Derek Dorsett, he suffered a high ankle sprain. Nevertheless, he finished 9th in Calder Trophy voting, with former Oiler <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/jeff-skinner-season-trying-find-steady-role-with-edmonton-oilers">Jeff Skinner</a> winning the award.</p>
<h2>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</h2>
<p><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-ryan-nugent-hopkins-stanley-cup-final-broken-hand">Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</a> was selected first overall by the Oilers in 2011 and made an immediate impact. He was named Rookie of the Month for both October and November, and in November, he tied a franchise record for most points in a month by a rookie with 16.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EIGHT years ago today, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. <a href="https://t.co/YenNGwRcV6">pic.twitter.com/YenNGwRcV6</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Adam (@OilersAdam) <a href="https://twitter.com/OilersAdam/status/1181946687092215808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Overall, he finished his rookie campaign with 52 points (18G, 34A) in 62 games, tying for the rookie lead alongside Gabriel Landeskog, who played 20 more games. His season ended early in February due to a shoulder injury. Nugent-Hopkins <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nugeforcalder">finished second in Calder Trophy voting</a> that season to Gabriel Landeskog, who played all 82 games and won the award; however, ‘Nuge’ was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.</p>
<h2>Connor McDavid</h2>
<p>By winning the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/its-been-five-years-since-the-edmonton-oilers-drafted-connor-mcdavid">Connor McDavid</a> sweepstakes, the Oilers secured the first overall pick and selected him in the 2015 NHL Draft, and the rookie phenom took only a few games into the 2015–16 season to record his first multi-point game — doing so in style with a three-point effort during his first Battle of Alberta on Hockey Night in Canada.</p>
<p>The generational talent put up 12 points in his first 13 games before suffering a clavicle injury after crashing into the end boards against the Philadelphia Flyers in November. He missed nearly three months of action, but <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/looking-back-at-connor-mcdavids-history-with-injury-and-how-the-oilers-have-done-without-him">returned in February against the Columbus Blue Jackets</a>, where he scored one of his most magical goals of his career. He went on to win Rookie of the Month in his first month back, recording 17 points in 14 games.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Never forget when a 19 year old Connor McDavid did this in his first game back after missing three months with a collarbone injury. <a href="https://t.co/NtcMIBlXAV">pic.twitter.com/NtcMIBlXAV</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Shaedon (@Shae_Nuge93) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shae_Nuge93/status/1695927505507819683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>He finished his rookie campaign with 48 points (16G, 32A) in 45 games, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-nominated-for-the-calder">placing third in Calder Trophy</a> voting. The then 24-year-old Artemi Panarin won the award, despite McDavid having a higher points-per-game average (1.06 compared to Panarin’s 0.96). However, McDavid was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.</p>
<h2>Stuart Skinner</h2>
<p>After showing promise in limited action during the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-stiffled-mattias-ekholm-stuart-skinner-florida-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions">Stuart Skinner</a> broke out in 2022–23, posting a 29-14-5 record, a 2.73 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage. Despite some prior NHL experience, he still qualified as a rookie, having played fewer than 25 games and being under 26 years old.</p>
<p>His 29 victories set an Oilers rookie record, surpassing the mark previously held by Fuhr. He became the second Oilers netminder since Fuhr to play in the All-Star Game and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/after-strong-season-and-rookie-of-the-month-win-edmonton-oilers-goalie-stuart-skinner-deserves-to-be-in-the-rookie-of-the-year-conversation">was named Rookie of the Month</a> in March of that season. Skinner finished second in Calder Trophy voting, losing out to the Seattle Kraken’s Matty Berniers.</p>
<h2>Could Isaac Howard become the first Oiler to win the Calder Trophy?</h2>
<p>When I think of players from the list who played in the early stages of the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-36-0-shades-of-the-decade-of-darkness-return-as-oilers-collapse-in-california">‘Decade of Darkness’</a> era — such as Gagner, Hall, Eberle, and Nugent-Hopkins — it feels like their rookie seasons came with immense pressure. Their struggling teams desperately needed them to perform because the Oilers back then lacked star-quality players.</p>
<p>With Howard, there will be an expectation for him to perform, especially if he plays alongside the Oilers’ captain. But unlike the other players from the ‘Decade of Darkness’ era, he won’t have to be “the guy,” since that responsibility already lies with McDavid and Draisaitl, which should take some pressure off him.</p>
<p>Also, a huge positive is that Howard is not an 18-year-old rookie — he’s a 21-year-old coming off one of the best seasons in the NCAA last year. While many Oilers fans are crossing their fingers that he can step in and be McDavid’s linemate from day one, expectations should also be tempered, since playing alongside the captain also means facing the other team’s top defensive matchups.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Isaac Howard with the game-winning, double overtime goal. Michigan State wins back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles. <a href="https://t.co/5tIC3RAEoR">pic.twitter.com/5tIC3RAEoR</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nathaniel Bott (@Nathaniel_Bott) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nathaniel_Bott/status/1903646119164301726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>However,  there’s something about Howard’s attitude that hints he could set himself apart from the pack. He seems to have that mix of confidence and boldness — you don’t wear a statement-making suit to your draft and already have a nickname like <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/real-life-podcast-edmonton-traffic-isaac-howard-and-drinking-the-oilers-offseason-kool-aid">“The Ice Man”</a> before playing an NHL game unless you’re built for the spotlight. That kind of personality might be exactly what helps him thrive in a pressure-filled top-six role.</p>
<p>Additionally, according to Jason Gregor, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-head-coach-knoblauch-will-play-howard-savoie-special-teams">head coach Kris Knoblauch recently said</a>, “Howard is a very offensive player and we’d like to find him a role on the power play, probably on the second unit.” While the Oilers’ second unit doesn’t see a ton of ice time, the fact that the coach is already talking about giving Howard a spot on the man advantage says a lot about how highly they regard his offensive upside. It suggests he’s going to get a chance to excel in an offensive role right from the start.</p>
<p>That said, I’m still leaning toward a modest projection for Howard’s rookie year, somewhere in the ballpark of what <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-after-refusing-to-play-for-philadelphia-flyers-cutter-gauthier-traded-to-anaheim-ducks-for-jamie-drysdale">Cutter Gauthier</a> — a former teammate of Howard&#8217;s with the U.S. National Development Team — achieved last season. Gauthier, who pushed for a trade from the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia Flyers, now plays for the Anaheim Ducks. He recorded 44 points (20G, 24A) in his first NHL season, playing most of his 5-on-5 minutes alongside Mason McTavish and Robby Fabbri, and finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting.</p>
<p>Overall, I’ll project Howard to score slightly more than Gauthier, posting a 23-goal, 24-assist season for 47 points next season. If he sticks with the big club, he’ll get chances to play with McDavid, but I feel there will be some third-line minutes mixed in there as well. For his rookie campaign, I predict he’ll have a better season than former Oilers like Eberle and Hall, but fall just short of Gagner and Nugent-Hopkins’ rookie seasons.</p>
<p>Yet, who knows — if the stars align and the &#8216;Ice Man&#8217; plays like he’s got ice in his veins next season, and that quick release translates to the NHL right away, it could put the Oilers in position to claim the franchise’s first Calder Trophy.</p>
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There’s a lot of buzz in Oil Country right now about the Edmonton Oilers' newly acquired prospect <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/its-such-an-unreal-opportunity-isaac-howard-excited-to-play-for-oilers">Isaac Howard,</a> and rightfully so.

The 2025 Hobey Baker winner has a very quick release, having scored 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games last season as an offensive dynamo with Michigan State University. By all accounts, the former first-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft looks like he’ll be given every opportunity to fill a role in the Oilers’ top six next season.

With the chance to play alongside Connor McDavid in 2025-26, Oilers fans can’t wait to see the impact Howard might have in his rookie year, as there’s potential for him to rank among the best rookie seasons in Oilers history. Having said that, below we’ll highlight ten of the franchise’s best rookie seasons and explore how Howard’s first NHL campaign could stack up against them.


<h2>Jari Kurri</h2>
When the Oilers selected <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-former-oiler-jari-kurri-named-borje-salming-courage-award-winner">Jari Kurri</a> 69th overall in the fourth round of the 1980 NHL Draft, few could have predicted he’d become a Hall of Famer and mainstay on <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/on-this-day-in-1984-wayne-gretzky-becomes-fastest-in-nhl-history-to-reach-1000-points">Wayne Gretzky’s</a> wing for years (as a side note, Gretzky isn’t on this list because he wasn’t officially considered a rookie in his first year in Edmonton due to his previous WHA experience).

That said, Kurri played three years prior in Finland’s top league with Jokerit Helsinki and quickly adapted to the North American game. Near the end of the season, he started playing with Gretzky more regularly, finishing with 75 points (32G, 43A) in 75 games. Unfortunately, Kurri wasn’t nominated for the Calder Trophy that season. Peter Stastny took the honour with 109 points, but Kurri’s 75 points still stand as the most by an Oilers rookie.
<h2>Glenn Anderson</h2>
Hall of Famer <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/on-this-day-in-1979-the-edmonton-oilers-draft-hall-of-famers-kevin-lowe-mark-messier-and-glenn-anderson">Glenn Anderson</a> was drafted 69th overall in the fourth round of the 1979 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut a year later during the 1980–81 season. He recorded 53 points in 55 games, and out of his 30 goals, five were game-winners and three were scored shorthanded. He also stepped up in the playoffs with 12 points (5G, 7A) in nine games. Anderson finished 11th in Calder Trophy voting that season, with the award going to stud D-man Ray Bourque.
<h2>Grant Fuhr</h2>
Netminder <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-mount-rushmore-the-best-goaltenders-in-team-history">Grant Fuhr</a> was drafted by the Oilers 8th overall in the 1981 Draft, and his Hall of Fame career began during the 1981–82 season, when he took the starter’s job away from veteran Ron Low. He<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-set-nhl-record-for-best-single-season-power-play-success-rate"> posted an incredible 28-5-14 record</a> and tied for second in the NHL in wins.

https://twitter.com/VintageOilers/status/1044601877776584711

His 28 victories set a club record for most wins by a rookie at the time, and he also appeared in the NHL All-Star Game. That season, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/will-stuart-skinner-win-edmonton-oilers-first-calder-trophy">Fuhr finished third in Calder Trophy voting</a>, behind Winnipeg Jets forward Dale Hawerchuk, who recorded 103 points. In addition to his Calder finish, Fuhr placed second in Vezina Trophy voting, losing out to the New York Islanders’ Billy Smith.
<h2>Jason Arnott</h2>
The Oilers drafted<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-100-oilers-jason-arnott-42"> Jason Arnott</a> 7th overall in the 1993 NHL Draft, their highest selection in 12 years at the time. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound centerman finished the 1993–94 season with 68 points (33G, 35A) in 78 games, ranking second on the team behind <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-100-oilers-doug-weight-10">Doug Weight</a> (74 points), and also racked up 104 penalty minutes. Of his 33 goals, 10 came on the power play and four were game-winners. Arnott became the first Oiler rookie to finish in the top two in Calder Trophy voting, with <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-55-0-honouring-brodeur">Martin Brodeur</a> winning the award.
<h2>Sam Gagner</h2>
<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-2023-24-player-review-sam-gagner">Sam Gagner</a> was drafted sixth overall by the Oilers in the 2007 NHL Draft and made an immediate impression as one of the youngest players in the league during the 2007–08 season.

https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1728973733283651877

Gagner finished his rookie campaign with 49 points (13G, 36A), ranking third on the Oilers that season. He developed chemistry on '<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/a-look-inside-how-the-edmonton-oilers-blew-it-with-robert-nilsson-and-set-off-a-series-of-bad-trades">The Kid Line</a>’ with fellow rookie Andrew Cogliano, who posted 45 points, and Robert Nilsson. Gagner played in the NHL Young Stars game and was named Rookie of the Month in February after recording 13 points in 12 games. His efforts earned him a 7th-place finish in Calder Trophy voting, with his former London Knights teammate <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/patrick-kane-and-what-he-tells-us-about-sam-gagner">Patrick Kane</a> winning the award that season.
<h2>Jordan Eberle</h2>
Edmonton drafted <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/fourteen-years-ago-today-edmonton-oilers-draft-jordan-eberle">Jordan Eberle</a> 22nd overall in the 2008 NHL Draft and made his debut during the 2010–11 season, and what a debut it was. In his first NHL game, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/40-edmonton-oilers-moments-jordan-eberle-scores-a-beauty-in-his-nhl-debut">he scored a highlight-reel goal</a> against the Calgary Flames, toe-dragging around a defender and roofing a shorthanded backhander over Mikko Kiprusoff.

https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/784403230163742720

He recorded 43 points (18G, 25A) in 69 games, and despite missing some time due to an ankle injury, he led the Oilers that season in points, game-winning goals (five), and shorthanded goals. He placed 15th in Calder Trophy voting.
<h2>Taylor Hall</h2>
The 2010 first overall pick by the Oilers, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-revisiting-series-edmonton-oilers-fall-for-taylor-hall">Taylor Hall,</a> made his NHL debut alongside teammate Eberle during the 2010–11 season. A two-time Memorial Cup champion and MVP with the Windsor Spitfires, Hall was seen as the centrepiece of the rebuild and the future face of the franchise and led the Oilers in his rookie season with 22 goals and finished tied for second with 42 points.

Hall was selected to participate in the NHL All-Star SuperSkills Competition and finished second in the fastest skater event behind Michael Grabner. However, his season ended early after he recorded <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/injuries-happen">his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick</a> in March, by scoring a goal, recording an assist, but during a fight with Columbus Blue Jackets’ Derek Dorsett, he suffered a high ankle sprain. Nevertheless, he finished 9th in Calder Trophy voting, with former Oiler <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/jeff-skinner-season-trying-find-steady-role-with-edmonton-oilers">Jeff Skinner</a> winning the award.
<h2>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</h2>
<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-ryan-nugent-hopkins-stanley-cup-final-broken-hand">Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</a> was selected first overall by the Oilers in 2011 and made an immediate impact. He was named Rookie of the Month for both October and November, and in November, he tied a franchise record for most points in a month by a rookie with 16.

https://twitter.com/OilersAdam/status/1181946687092215808

Overall, he finished his rookie campaign with 52 points (18G, 34A) in 62 games, tying for the rookie lead alongside Gabriel Landeskog, who played 20 more games. His season ended early in February due to a shoulder injury. Nugent-Hopkins <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nugeforcalder">finished second in Calder Trophy voting</a> that season to Gabriel Landeskog, who played all 82 games and won the award; however, ‘Nuge’ was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
<h2>Connor McDavid</h2>
By winning the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/its-been-five-years-since-the-edmonton-oilers-drafted-connor-mcdavid">Connor McDavid</a> sweepstakes, the Oilers secured the first overall pick and selected him in the 2015 NHL Draft, and the rookie phenom took only a few games into the 2015–16 season to record his first multi-point game — doing so in style with a three-point effort during his first Battle of Alberta on Hockey Night in Canada.

The generational talent put up 12 points in his first 13 games before suffering a clavicle injury after crashing into the end boards against the Philadelphia Flyers in November. He missed nearly three months of action, but <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/looking-back-at-connor-mcdavids-history-with-injury-and-how-the-oilers-have-done-without-him">returned in February against the Columbus Blue Jackets</a>, where he scored one of his most magical goals of his career. He went on to win Rookie of the Month in his first month back, recording 17 points in 14 games.

https://twitter.com/Shae_Nuge93/status/1695927505507819683

He finished his rookie campaign with 48 points (16G, 32A) in 45 games, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-nominated-for-the-calder">placing third in Calder Trophy</a> voting. The then 24-year-old Artemi Panarin won the award, despite McDavid having a higher points-per-game average (1.06 compared to Panarin’s 0.96). However, McDavid was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
<h2>Stuart Skinner</h2>
After showing promise in limited action during the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-stiffled-mattias-ekholm-stuart-skinner-florida-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions">Stuart Skinner</a> broke out in 2022–23, posting a 29-14-5 record, a 2.73 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage. Despite some prior NHL experience, he still qualified as a rookie, having played fewer than 25 games and being under 26 years old.

His 29 victories set an Oilers rookie record, surpassing the mark previously held by Fuhr. He became the second Oilers netminder since Fuhr to play in the All-Star Game and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/after-strong-season-and-rookie-of-the-month-win-edmonton-oilers-goalie-stuart-skinner-deserves-to-be-in-the-rookie-of-the-year-conversation">was named Rookie of the Month</a> in March of that season. Skinner finished second in Calder Trophy voting, losing out to the Seattle Kraken’s Matty Berniers.
<h2>Could Isaac Howard become the first Oiler to win the Calder Trophy?</h2>
When I think of players from the list who played in the early stages of the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-36-0-shades-of-the-decade-of-darkness-return-as-oilers-collapse-in-california">‘Decade of Darkness’</a> era — such as Gagner, Hall, Eberle, and Nugent-Hopkins — it feels like their rookie seasons came with immense pressure. Their struggling teams desperately needed them to perform because the Oilers back then lacked star-quality players.

With Howard, there will be an expectation for him to perform, especially if he plays alongside the Oilers’ captain. But unlike the other players from the ‘Decade of Darkness’ era, he won’t have to be “the guy,” since that responsibility already lies with McDavid and Draisaitl, which should take some pressure off him.

Also, a huge positive is that Howard is not an 18-year-old rookie — he’s a 21-year-old coming off one of the best seasons in the NCAA last year. While many Oilers fans are crossing their fingers that he can step in and be McDavid’s linemate from day one, expectations should also be tempered, since playing alongside the captain also means facing the other team’s top defensive matchups.

https://twitter.com/Nathaniel_Bott/status/1903646119164301726

However,  there’s something about Howard’s attitude that hints he could set himself apart from the pack. He seems to have that mix of confidence and boldness — you don’t wear a statement-making suit to your draft and already have a nickname like <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/real-life-podcast-edmonton-traffic-isaac-howard-and-drinking-the-oilers-offseason-kool-aid">“The Ice Man”</a> before playing an NHL game unless you’re built for the spotlight. That kind of personality might be exactly what helps him thrive in a pressure-filled top-six role.

Additionally, according to Jason Gregor, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-head-coach-knoblauch-will-play-howard-savoie-special-teams">head coach Kris Knoblauch recently said</a>, “Howard is a very offensive player and we’d like to find him a role on the power play, probably on the second unit.” While the Oilers’ second unit doesn’t see a ton of ice time, the fact that the coach is already talking about giving Howard a spot on the man advantage says a lot about how highly they regard his offensive upside. It suggests he’s going to get a chance to excel in an offensive role right from the start.

That said, I’m still leaning toward a modest projection for Howard’s rookie year, somewhere in the ballpark of what <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-after-refusing-to-play-for-philadelphia-flyers-cutter-gauthier-traded-to-anaheim-ducks-for-jamie-drysdale">Cutter Gauthier</a> — a former teammate of Howard's with the U.S. National Development Team — achieved last season. Gauthier, who pushed for a trade from the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia Flyers, now plays for the Anaheim Ducks. He recorded 44 points (20G, 24A) in his first NHL season, playing most of his 5-on-5 minutes alongside Mason McTavish and Robby Fabbri, and finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting.

Overall, I’ll project Howard to score slightly more than Gauthier, posting a 23-goal, 24-assist season for 47 points next season. If he sticks with the big club, he’ll get chances to play with McDavid, but I feel there will be some third-line minutes mixed in there as well. For his rookie campaign, I predict he’ll have a better season than former Oilers like Eberle and Hall, but fall just short of Gagner and Nugent-Hopkins’ rookie seasons.

Yet, who knows — if the stars align and the 'Ice Man' plays like he’s got ice in his veins next season, and that quick release translates to the NHL right away, it could put the Oilers in position to claim the franchise’s first Calder Trophy.

<hr />

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