Photo by: Michael Caples
Hobey Baker Winner Isaac Howard Signs With Edmonton Oilers, Leaves Lasting Legacy
7/9/2025 8:23:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Isaac Howard, the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner, will forgo his remaining eligibility at Michigan State and sign a three-year entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers beginning in 2025-26. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Howard was traded to Edmonton late Tuesday night.
Howard is set to become the 80th Spartan to play in the NHL, and joins Artyom Levshunov (Chicago Blackhawks), Karsen Dorwart (Philadelphia Flyers), Mason Appleton (Detroit Red Wings), Mackenzie MacEachern (Vancouver Canucks), Torey Krug (St. Louis Blues) and Jeff Petry (Florida Panthers) as a former Spartan currently under NHL contract.
"All of us within the Michigan State hockey program want to congratulate Ike on signing with the Edmonton Oilers and thank him for his two years as a Spartan," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "Growing up, every young hockey player dreams of reaching the NHL and we're incredibly proud of Ike for achieving that dream."
Howard is coming off a junior campaign in which he turned in one of the most impressive individual seasons in program history. His career-best 26 goals and 52 points helped him rank first nationally in points per game (1.41) and third in goals per game (0.70). He was the third Spartan all-time to hoist the Hobey, joining Ryan Miller and Kip Miller, and was the fourth Spartan to earn USA Hockey's College Player of the Year Award. Howard's season ended with laundry list of accolades that also included First Team AHCA All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
In Howard's two seasons at Michigan State, he helped guide Michigan State to a monumental turnaround. MSU became the first team in conference history to win the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles in the same year in back-to-back seasons. MSU compiled a 51-17-7 record (.740) in those two seasons and earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. In 2023-24, the Spartans returned to NCAAs for the first time since 2012 and picked up their first NCAA win since 2008.
At the conclusion of his junior season, Howard was named to Team USA ahead of the 2025 IIHF World Championships where he aided the United States in winning a gold medal for the first time in 92 years.
Howard is set to become the 80th Spartan to play in the NHL, and joins Artyom Levshunov (Chicago Blackhawks), Karsen Dorwart (Philadelphia Flyers), Mason Appleton (Detroit Red Wings), Mackenzie MacEachern (Vancouver Canucks), Torey Krug (St. Louis Blues) and Jeff Petry (Florida Panthers) as a former Spartan currently under NHL contract.
"All of us within the Michigan State hockey program want to congratulate Ike on signing with the Edmonton Oilers and thank him for his two years as a Spartan," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "Growing up, every young hockey player dreams of reaching the NHL and we're incredibly proud of Ike for achieving that dream."
Howard is coming off a junior campaign in which he turned in one of the most impressive individual seasons in program history. His career-best 26 goals and 52 points helped him rank first nationally in points per game (1.41) and third in goals per game (0.70). He was the third Spartan all-time to hoist the Hobey, joining Ryan Miller and Kip Miller, and was the fourth Spartan to earn USA Hockey's College Player of the Year Award. Howard's season ended with laundry list of accolades that also included First Team AHCA All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
In Howard's two seasons at Michigan State, he helped guide Michigan State to a monumental turnaround. MSU became the first team in conference history to win the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles in the same year in back-to-back seasons. MSU compiled a 51-17-7 record (.740) in those two seasons and earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. In 2023-24, the Spartans returned to NCAAs for the first time since 2012 and picked up their first NCAA win since 2008.
At the conclusion of his junior season, Howard was named to Team USA ahead of the 2025 IIHF World Championships where he aided the United States in winning a gold medal for the first time in 92 years.
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