Lightning in Limbo as Isaac Howard Refuses to Sign, Trade Talks Stall
So, there’s some serious tension brewing between the Tampa Bay Lightning and one of their most talented young prospects, Isaac Howard. If you haven’t been following, Howard was a first-round pick back in 2022, and he’s made it crystal clear—he’s not interested in signing with Tampa Bay. Now, that’s a pretty bold move from a 21-year-old who hasn’t even touched NHL ice yet, but there’s a bigger story behind it.
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Right now, the Lightning are in this frustrating in-between stage. They’re trying to trade Howard, but it’s complicated. According to GM Julien BriseBois, they’ve actually had some teams willing to offer decent returns—but here’s the catch—those are teams Howard won’t sign with. On the flip side, the teams he’s open to joining haven’t put enough value on the table to make a trade worthwhile for Tampa. So, it’s a classic standstill.
Unless something changes soon, Howard is heading back to Michigan State for his senior year. And if he walks away next summer as a free agent, the Lightning only get a compensatory second-round pick—63rd overall. That’s a massive drop in value for someone who was a top pick just a few years ago. It’s a tough pill to swallow.
This kind of standoff brings up bigger questions about the NCAA loophole. Players can essentially stall and avoid signing with the teams that drafted them just by staying in school a bit longer. It’s a unique type of leverage—and while it’s technically allowed under the rules, it makes teams rethink how they draft and develop college talent. In Howard’s case, it’s all about control. He wants to dictate where he starts his NHL career, but that leverage doesn’t come without backlash. Some fans are calling him entitled, others are defending his right to choose where he plays.
Regardless of where you stand, it’s clear that Howard is betting big on himself—and that puts all the pressure on Tampa to find a solution before next summer.
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