Oilers' Howard Out 'a Couple Weeks' After Knee-on-Knee Hit Against Islanders

Edmonton Oilers forward Isaac Howard will miss "a couple weeks" with an injury sustained in Saturday's victory against the New York Islanders, head coach Mike Babcock confirmed on Tuesday. Howard was hurt in a knee-on-knee collision with Islanders forward Emil Heineman in the first period, and Heineman was assessed a major penalty for kneeing along with a game misconduct. Howard did not put weight on his left leg as he was helped off the ice, and the early prognosis points to a spell on the sidelines rather than a season-ending blow. The 22-year-old has one goal and two assists in 13 games this season, along with two penalty minutes, three blocks and four hits, and his absence removes another young option from Edmonton's forward group at a busy point in the schedule. Howard was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, 31st overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft, and was traded to Edmonton on July 8, 2025, for forward Sam O'Reilly. The Oilers will now have to reshuffle their lines while Howard recovers, with Babcock's "couple weeks" timeline giving supporters a rough guide rather than a firm return date for the promising winger.