- Injuries to Matt Savoie and Mattias Janmark have left two forward jobs open in Edmonton
- Isaac Howard and Josh Samanski both said at rookie camp they are ready to take one
- Read below for what each said and where they fit in the Oilers lineup
Two spots opened up in the Edmonton forward group, and the Oilers have two young forwards who want them.
Matt Savoie is still recovering from an undisclosed injury he picked up in the offseason. Mattias Janmark had surgery in March and has not been cleared either, per NHL.com. That leaves room for Isaac Howard and Josh Samanski, and neither one is pretending otherwise.
Howard was asked Friday whether he can win the top-six job Savoie left behind.
“I think I definitely can and I don’t have to overthink it or do anything like that. I just have to come ready, play hard, compete hard and just showcase myself.”
Catch his full media availability from the opening day of rookie camp:
The 22-year-old had 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games with Bakersfield last season and five points in 29 games with Edmonton. He did not sugarcoat how the year went.
“I think to my standards, last season wasn’t what I wanted, but I think there was a lot of great lessons I took from it and helped me grow as a player. I’ve come back better for this camp, more prepared and better overall.”
A Hobey Baker winner at Michigan State in 2025, Howard arrived from Tampa Bay in the Sam O’Reilly trade that July. His year in the AHL was heavy on video work with Condors coach Colin Chaulk.
Edmonton opened rookie camp Friday with a 25-man group:
Samanski is chasing something different. The 24-year-old German is in line to compete for a checking-line center job after four points in 24 games with the Oilers and five playoff appearances last spring.
He talked Friday about how much easier this September feels:
“Last year was new for me and I didn’t know what was coming and I think the difference for me this year is that I know what’s coming.”
Skating on Germany’s top line with Leon Draisaitl at the Winter Olympics gave him a boost, and Draisaitl kept helping once they were back in Edmonton.
“It was also nice to have someone there that reminds you of home, even if it’s speaking German every once in a while, that’s really good.”
The rookies get the Battle of Alberta on Monday night against the Flames. Main camp follows, and both open roster spots are still sitting there.
