Oilers place Troy Stecher on waivers, loan Ike Howard to AHL

The Edmonton Oilers have made room for the return of Zach Hyman.

Edmonton placed defenceman Troy Stecher on waivers and loaned forward Ike Howard to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, the team announced Friday.

The news comes one day after it was announced that Hyman would make his season debut against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Hyman, 33, has been out since Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on May 27 after suffering a wrist injury.

He underwent surgery on the fractured and damaged ligaments in the summer and was placed on the long-term injury reserve to start the 2025-26 season.

Howard heads to the AHL after recording two goals and one assist in 17 games with the Oilers this season. The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner was acquired by Edmonton in an off-season trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for fellow prospect Sam O’Reilly.

Stecher was placed on waivers after appearing in just six games for the Oilers this season. The defenceman last played on Oct. 30 against the New York Rangers.

You can watch Hyman and the Oilers take on the Hurricanes Saturday night on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT.