Expectations for the Edmonton Oilers are high heading into the new season. The disappointment of last season’s first-round exit still looms, plus there’s the lingering question of what the future holds for Connor McDavid. Does another disappointing campaign lead to his departure? Hopefully we don’t find out.

While the bulk of the pressure is on the top players, there’s also a strange aura around Ike Howard. He’s made headlines numerous times since being drafted into the NHL. It started with the all-white suit at the draft and then the whole saga of wanting to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning, one of the most successful NHL franchises this decade.

Since being acquired by the Oilers for Sam O’Reilly, the noise has quieted on the media front, and Howard seems like a humble kid. The biggest stir he’s brought is that he wants to be known as Ike instead of Isaac.

However, with the previous noise, expectations are high for the former 31st overall pick. Certain fans are expecting a high-scoring season from him, while others have already given up on the idea. So what are the expectations for the second-year pro?

We should start with his spot in the lineup. Last season, Howard played 29 games in the NHL but spent the bulk of his time with the Bakersfield Condors, where he was successful: 24 goals and 50 points in 47 games. Unfortunately, he didn’t turn that into success in the NHL, with only five points in 29 games. The circumstances were much different, though.

The majority of Howard’s time in the NHL was spent in the bottom six, averaging 10:19 time on ice. His most common linemates were........

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