Lightning’s General Manager Doubts Howard Will Sign as He Returns to School

TAMPA, Fla. — Julien BriseBois, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, expressed skepticism on Monday about Isaac Howard signing with the team. This follows a report from Sportsnet‘s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, stating that Howard, a standout player from Michigan State, has chosen to return for his senior season instead of joining the NHL.

Howard, 21, was selected by the Lightning in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, being the 31st overall pick. According to NHL and NHLPA rules, teams retain rights to drafted NCAA players for four seasons. By opting for an additional year of college hockey, Howard’s path now leads him to becoming an unrestricted free agent on August 15, 2026.

Friedman mentioned that the Lightning could now consider trading Howard’s rights to prevent the risk of him leaving the organization. “I think the Lightning know that the odds are now against them and that he probably is not going to be part of their organization, but nobody said anything bad about him,” Friedman said.

The disconnect between Howard’s vision and the Lightning’s goals is evident. “Whatever the path Howard saw and the path the Lightning saw, it didn’t line up,” Friedman added.

This past season, Howard led NCAA players in scoring, finishing with 52 points and tied for third with 26 goals. He is the only first-round pick Tampa Bay has made in the last five years, as the team has pursued aggressive trades to maintain their competitive edge.