Isaac Howard and Matthew Savoie will play big roles in Edmonton this season, but according to Jason Gregor, fans need to lower expectations for the rookies. The 2025 off-season was one of many changes for the Oilers, and the biggest of all of those was the team getting younger and quicker, with the likes of Evander Kane, Corey Perry and Viktor Arvidsson moved out via trades or lost in free agency. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/canucks/status/1937903620118470968'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/nhlbruins/status/1940075696535019858'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Now, the team are set to rely on two young wingers they have traded for in the past 18 months, with Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard set to take up huge roles in the Oilers top-nine this upcoming season. <h3>Jason Gregor warns of high expectations for two young wingers</h3> However, the expectations may have gotten too high, with Jason Gregor recently revealing through an <a href='https://oilersnation.com/news/monday-mailbag-expecting-too-much-rookie-edmonton-oilers-matt-savoie-isaac-howard' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>OilersNation</a> piece that he believes fans need to temper their expectations for the two as they look to complete their first full seasons in the NHL. Yes. I'm not sold Howard will be a regular in the NHL. It is his first pro season. Over 75% of NHL players spend some time in the AHL. I think Savoie will be a regular to start the season and likely starts on the third line. I'd have low offensive expectations of both, and if they overachieve then it is a bonus, rather than projecting them to score 20 as rookies, and if they don't, then being mad. I think many need to recalibrate their offensive expectations for Howard and Savoie. I hope, for their sake, one or both surprise and produce a lot, but history tells me it is unlikely. And that is totally fine. The Oilers are a legitimate Cup contender and they don't need a rookie to carry them. If one has a surprise season that is a bonus, but shouldn't be looked as an expectation. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1962502992957145139'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> On paper, both have the talent to be NHLers, but given the expectations of playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it's easy to see why fans expect a lot. Ultimately, playing with those two stars will help the ceiling of the young wingers, but as they look to get their feet wet at the NHL level, fans shouldn't expect them to be stars immediately upon arrival.