Oilers may have one major drawback to roster after Isaac Howard trade

Oilers' general manager Stan Bowman has repeatedly stated that he wishes to make his lineup younger, and in the first six-weeks of the NHL offseason, has mostly done so by signing new players, trading away others, and not signing some of the team's veteran UFA's.

In July of 2024, Stan Bowman acquired 21 year-old center Matt Savoie, and then this past Tuesday added another 21 year-old to the roster, left winger Isaac Howard.

In addition to these moves, Oilers GM traded away veterans Evander Kane and Victor Arvidsson, and released ageing Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, John Klingberg, and Connor Brown, by not resigning them to a new contract.

All of these moves have made the Oilers substantially younger. Except now, by having to fill these roster positions with rookies and prospects, the club has become less-experienced, both on the ice and in the locker-room, a factor that will impact the team's ability to advance in the playoffs next season.

Furthermore, Howard and Savoie are 5'10" and 5'9" respectively, and we've seen time and again the importance of size and strength when facing bruising defenseman like Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones of the Florida Panthers. Also, younger players may not as yet be adept at understanding roles, and lack the experience to play critical moments of important games, especially in the playoffs, when every shift matters.

Now, I'm not suggesting the Oilers' new wingers won't have a positive impact on the team, but their smallish size must be considered, as does their inexperience. If the Oilers acquire too much youth, the team may take a step backwards next season, if it isn't properly managed, or if rookies aren't paired with more-experienced players.

These are some of the concerns that Insiders have voiced about the Oilers. Yet, they are also the same concerns that most teams face in the modern NHL, teams that look to get younger, and whose core players account for approximately 40% of the NHL cap. It is a new reality that cannot be ignored, even with the cap increasing by $25.5M over the next three years.