Could Isaac Howard or Matt Savoie Finally End the Edmonton Oilers’ Longstanding Calder Trophy Drought With a Breakout Rookie Season?
When it comes to elite individual NHL awards, the Edmonton Oilers are no strangers. They’ve seen their share of Hart, Art Ross, and Rocket Richard Trophy winners, with names like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Wayne Gretzky etched deeply into the annals of hockey history. However, one prestigious award has long eluded the storied franchise—the Calder Memorial Trophy, given annually to the league’s top rookie.
It’s a perplexing and somewhat ironic void, especially given Edmonton’s history of drafting highly talented young players. From Gretzky’s professional debut (which technically made him ineligible for the Calder) to McDavid’s injury-shortened rookie campaign, the Oilers’ relationship with the NHL’s top rookie honor has been complicated at best and cursed at worst.
Now, in the 2025-26 season, two new faces could have a shot at finally breaking that longstanding curse: Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie. Both forwards come with high expectations and skill sets that could translate well at the NHL level. With the right development, deployment, and opportunity, either player could make a legitimate run at the Calder Trophy—and in doing so, rewrite a peculiar chapter in Oilers history.
To date, no player wearing an Oilers sweater has ever won the Calder Trophy. Even with generational talents like McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins entering the league with high expectations, none managed to claim rookie-of-the-year honors. McDavid, most notably, was on pace for a dominant rookie campaign in 2015-16 before a clavicle injury limited him to 45 games, removing him from consideration.
Nugent-Hopkins, despite a strong campaign in 2011-12, finished second in the voting to Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog. Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle each showed promise in their first seasons, but neither cracked the finalist tier. It has become a running joke—or perhaps a quiet frustration—among Oilers fans that the Calder Trophy remains conspicuously absent from Edmonton’s otherwise decorated award case.
Isaac Howard, originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, found his way to the Oilers via trade. After two productive NCAA seasons followed by a transition into the AHL, Howard began making noise with his explosive offensive instincts, sharp skating, and quick release.
Howard’s game is defined by his ability to find soft spots in coverage and unleash a dangerous wrist shot. He’s an offensive-minded winger who thrives in transition and can adapt quickly to high-tempo systems. Though slightly undersized at 5-foot-10, his shiftiness and hockey IQ make up for any perceived physical disadvantages.
With the Oilers leaning toward a more speed-driven, depth-scoring approach to complement their stars, Howard could find himself in an ideal situation. Whether it’s skating alongside a skilled playmaker like Ryan McLeod or being part of a sheltered scoring line, Howard has the tools to rack up points in his rookie season.
If he makes the NHL roster out of training camp—and early signs suggest he’s ready for that leap—Howard could be a dark-horse Calder candidate. His offensive ceiling, coupled with power-play usage, could see him hitting the 45–60 point range, a threshold that typically places rookies in the Calder conversation.
Unlike Howard, Matt Savoie arrives with the added spotlight of being a former top-10 pick. Drafted ninth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Savoie’s journey to Edmonton has been less conventional. He’s endured stops and starts due to injuries and organizational depth challenges, but make no mistake: his talent is immense.
Savoie is a high-motor, high-skill forward known for his creativity, puck control, and ability to operate in tight spaces. At 5-foot-9, he’s not physically imposing, but his skating and edge work allow him to create separation and find lanes others might miss. His vision and passing ability make him an ideal candidate to slot into Edmonton’s second power-play unit or even see minutes alongside elite talent at five-on-five.
One of Savoie’s greatest assets is his versatility. He can play both center and wing, giving the Oilers flexibility in how they deploy him. Should an injury occur in the top six, Savoie could be elevated into a prime offensive role, giving him more exposure and opportunity to rack up Calder-worthy stats.
And unlike many rookies, Savoie enters the 2025-26 season with a chip on his shoulder. His journey hasn’t been linear, and he’s out to prove that he belongs—not just as an NHL player, but as a difference-maker. If his preseason performance and AHL numbers from the previous year are any indication, he’s ready to explode.
The Calder Trophy is rarely won in isolation. It’s not just about individual skill, but also about opportunity, coaching, linemates, and health. Both Howard and Savoie will need the stars to align to truly mount a Calder campaign, but the conditions in Edmonton might actually favor such a breakout.
The Oilers’ coaching staff, now entering a more stabilized phase under head coach Kris Knoblauch, has shown a willingness to trust young talent in meaningful roles. Knoblauch’s track record in player development—from his days in the WHL to his AHL experience—has been lauded. With the Oilers needing contributions beyond the top line, he may be inclined to roll with rookies who can spark offense deeper in the lineup.
The Oilers also have the luxury of elite mentorship. Practicing and playing with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman on a daily basis provides young players with a steep, but valuable learning curve. If either rookie finds chemistry with these veterans—even in short bursts—it could dramatically boost their visibility and impact.
Of course, neither Howard nor Savoie will have an open runway to the Calder. The 2025-26 rookie class includes a deep pool of elite talent. From highly touted top picks like Michael Misa and Ivan Demidov to late-blooming European imports making the jump to North America, the competition will be fierce.
But that may play into Edmonton’s favor. Often, Calder voters are drawn to surprise stories—players who weren’t top-five picks but rose through strong development and team impact. Both Howard and Savoie could check those boxes, especially if they exceed expectations and contribute to an Oilers team competing for a top spot in the Western Conference.
One underrated aspect of awards like the Calder is narrative. If the media picks up on the “Calder Curse” storyline and either player performs well, it could create momentum. Writers love a redemption arc, and breaking a franchise drought of this magnitude would provide a compelling backdrop for a Calder campaign.
Imagine the media coverage if Savoie were to notch 50 points while playing key minutes on a contending Oilers team. Or if Howard, overlooked by his original franchise, emerges as a 20-goal scorer in his rookie year. These are the kinds of stories that generate votes—especially when backed by strong analytics and eye-test performances.
It’s far too early to crown either Isaac Howard or Matt Savoie as a surefire Calder Trophy winner, but both have the tools, the situation, and the motivation to make it happen. They represent two distinct paths to the same goal: breaking the Edmonton Oilers’ strange, decades-long Calder drought.
Howard brings the sniper’s edge and goal-scoring instincts, while Savoie offers playmaking brilliance and positional versatility. Together, they embody the next wave of talent Edmonton hopes will support its current superstars and extend the team’s competitive window.
Whether or not either player ultimately hoists the Calder Trophy in June 2026 remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—the curse is being challenged, and for the first time in a long while, Oilers fans have real reason to believe that the NHL’s top rookie might just wear orange and blue.
