Oilers Recall Josh Samanski and Ike Howard from Bakersfield Condors

The Edmonton Oilers announced roster movement tied to cap maneuvering as Josh Samanski was recalled from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors while a team release described Isaac Howard as being loaned back to the Condors, a phrasing that conflicts with several outlets reporting both forwards were recalled. The NHL/team release stated, “The Edmonton Oilers announced Monday they have recalled forward Josh Samanski from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors and loaned forward Isaac Howard.”

Samanski, listed as a 23-year-old, 6-foot-2, 195-pound centreman, arrives in Edmonton with mixed AHL totals in circulation — The Hockey News reported Samanski has “31 points (8G, 23) in 44 games with Bakersfield,” while an alternate Oilers release showed “seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points in 39 games with the Condors this season.” His brief NHL sample this season includes five games in which he produced two assists; CBS Sports noted he “has generated two assists, four hits and one shot while averaging 9:21 of ice time” in those appearances. The Oilers release also tied Samanski to international duty, stating, “The 6-foot-2, 195-pound centreman will join Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl with the German national squad at next month's Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.”

Isaac Howard’s status and stat lines diverge across reports. The Hockey News credited Howard with “32 points (14G, 18A) in 30 games with the Condors” and noted his 1.07 points-per-game ranked in the AHL top 10 for players with at least 30 games. SpartansWire attributed Howard’s recall to an AHL December Player of the Month performance, saying, “Howard's call up comes on the heels of winning the AHL's December Player of the Month award after leading the league in scoring with 16 points in 11 games, including a natural hat trick and four three-point games.” Conversely, one Oilers release listed Howard with “10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 16 games with Bakersfield,” while both THN and that release agreed Howard has “scored two goals and three assists for five points in 28 games with the Oilers this season.”

Cap and waiver mechanics appear central to the moves. Puckpedia’s analysis, quoted in Edmonton Journal copy, lays out the team’s likely sequence: “If Oilers put (Mattias) Janmark on LTIR with Samanski & Howard in minors, then calling them up later would take up their AAV (cap hit + perf bonuses) of $1.46M & $1.62M. However, if they’re on the NHL roster when Janmark goes on LTIR, they count as their cap hits of $975K & $950K. Therefore, expect Edmonton to send the guys on waivers down after clearing waivers so they have room to call up 1 or both of Samanski & Howard. Once up, they can put Janmark on LTIR. Then, after the players sent down play at least 1 AHL game, they could be swapped back.”

Local coverage pushed the performance argument for Samanski staying in Edmonton. Edmonton Journal opinion held that “Samanski, now in his sixth year of pro hockey, should stay in Edmonton. He’s a better NHL player right now than Mangiapane or Mattias Janmark,” citing Samanski’s speed, defensive play and forechecking after his five games on a line with Jack Roslovic and Matt Savoie.

What matters next is confirmation of the transaction language on the official NHL transactions log and whether the Oilers follow the Puckpedia sequence around Janmark’s LTIR and the waivers of Andrew Mangiapane and Alec Regula. If Samanski remains on the NHL roster and Howard’s status is clarified, Edmonton will have reshaped its bottom-six options with a 23-year-old centreman carrying Olympic experience and an AHL scorer whose December form pushed him into recall conversations.