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Prospect Info: 2022 31st Overall Pick | LW Isaac Howard

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Felonious Python said:
Quinnipiac is like 12th on Pairwise. Cornell is 17th.

As a group, they're a bit lower than the top HE, NCHC, Big 10 teams. The ECAC is still very competitive, and its teams can reach the Frozen Four, sometimes even winning the thing, but it's not really on the same level.

Yale, Brown, RPI, Princeton, Harvard, and Union are all 37th or lower in the Pairwise rankings.
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Kind of where I was going with that

The Pairwise has never really done anything for me other than stacking the initial deck at the beginning of the tournament. And obviously the Seasonal Sorting Hat. So I am never really all-in on the Pairwise. That’s just me though.

Cornell’s got a pretty respectable overall first round record and been within a win from the Frozen Four the past two NCAA’s. That said, the Toledo is Michigan State, Ohio State, and BU (along with Cornell).

Not gonna lie, and I certainly don’t want to jinx it, but I’m pretty sure MSU (and Ike) are going to take care of business, but they better not overlook their opponent. A Cornell squad that’s been chugging down the road the last six weeks and well motivated in that their coach (Shafer) is retiring after this tournament after 30 seasons being behind the bench.

Where have we heard/seen that before?
 
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Hoek said:
But what if he made a critical mistake in a regular season game? Not like he's clutch or anything.
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Clutch against ncaa players, cool. Last I checked, NHL defenses are a couple notches above. The point remains, he hasn't earned playing time yet, based on how Tampa runs things, and ifbhe demands it or he won't sign, hopefully Cooper lets him sit the bench or get some 4th line 5 minutes a game.
 
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JTBF81 said:
Clutch against ncaa players, cool. Last I checked, NHL defenses are a couple notches above. The point remains, he hasn't earned playing time yet, based on how Tampa runs things, and ifbhe demands it or he won't sign, hopefully Cooper lets him sit the bench or get some 4th line 5 minutes a game.
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The Rangers rarely hand spots out and they threw Chris Kreider right into the fire in the 2012 Playoffs straight from Boston College. Leafs threw Matthew Knies into the fire at the end of 2022-23.

No one is saying Howard needs to play in the playoffs. We're saying that in order to get him signed, guarantee him a few NHL games, rest/scratch guys we don't need to see like Chaffee and Girgensons, play him 12-15 minutes and see what we have. If he's ass, Cooper can staple him to the bench after 7 or 8 minutes, If he's good and is somehow the great complementary passenger that we think he can be, then good.
 
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Major4Boarding said:
Kind of where I was going with that

The Pairwise has never really done anything for me other than stacking the initial deck at the beginning of the tournament. And obviously the Seasonal Sorting Hat. So I am never really all-in on the Pairwise. That’s just me though.

Cornell’s got a pretty respectable overall first round record and been within a win from the Frozen Four the past two NCAA’s. That said, the Toledo is Michigan State, Ohio State, and BU (along with Cornell).

Not gonna lie, and I certainly don’t want to jinx it, but I’m pretty sure MSU (and Ike) are going to take care of business, but they better not overlook their opponent. A Cornell squad that’s been chugging down the road the last six weeks and well motivated in that their coach (Shafer) is retiring after this tournament after 30 seasons being behind the bench.

Where have we heard/seen that before?
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I almost cited KRACH, which is even more bearish on Quinnipiac and Cornell (14th and 20th), but that ranking isn't really used for anything.

As DI becomes a more competitive with full athletic scholarships and NIL money, the ECAC could be one of the big losers, but that's still down the road for now.
 
When we signed JT Brown out of college, we were able to do so because we offered to play him and let him eat one year of team rights when other teams wouldn't. I don't know why a player would demand to play in the NHL if it doesn't help their contract situation.

Having said that, players can choose not to sign and go to a team of their choosing. It's an option they don't use often, but they can use if they want to, it's just not a lot of leverage. I'm not a big fan of drafting college players just for that reason, even though the downside is often overblown.
 
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Rschmitz said:
When we signed JT Brown out of college, we were able to do so because we offered to play him and let him eat one year of team rights when other teams wouldn't. I don't know why a player would demand to play in the NHL if it doesn't help their contract situation.

Having said that, players can choose not to sign and go to a team of their choosing. It's an option they don't use often, but they can use if they want to, it's just not a lot of leverage. I'm not a big fan of drafting college players just for that reason, even though the downside is often overblown.
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Personally think leverage is used to get NHL games and be in the league instead of sitting on buses in the A, going to Bridgeport, Utica, Belleville, etc, eating subs all weekend.

If you're good enough (which I think Howard is), use a bit of leverage to get a few NHL games. No guarantees you'll get games otherwise.
 
Rschmitz said:
When we signed JT Brown out of college, we were able to do so because we offered to play him and let him eat one year of team rights when other teams wouldn't. I don't know why a player would demand to play in the NHL if it doesn't help their contract situation.

Having said that, players can choose not to sign and go to a team of their choosing. It's an option they don't use often, but they can use if they want to, it's just not a lot of leverage. I'm not a big fan of drafting college players just for that reason, even though the downside is often overblown.
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Wanting to start a deal now gets them one year closer to their next RFA contract. If they're betting on themselves, it's a logical decision.
 
Felonious Python said:
Wanting to start a deal now gets them one year closer to their next RFA contract. If they're betting on themselves, it's a logical decision.
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Doesn’t he have to play a minimum number of games for that to apply? I think by the time the tourney is over that option will be long gone for him
 
Would seem beyond dumb to me not to go and sign Howard as soon as possible.
Especially with the constant talk of being all in and making the most of our current window.
Howard can make us a better team? My guess is probably, and even if he doesn't right now a year of his ELC is not the end of the world. At the eyes of JBB he has to be a player you get for free that could have a positive impact on your team. And JBB's goal is to make the team better... so this is a no brainer IMO. I would also not risk Howard not signing right now and then end up in another Sammy Walker situation.

Get him signed as soon as possible, get him on the ice with the team as soon as possible, get him on our top9 as soon as possible as well as on our PP2.
This is a Hobey Baker finalist level prospect, and he'll be a great addition to what we need (more scoring).
 
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Hockeyville USA said:
The Rangers rarely hand spots out and they threw Chris Kreider right into the fire in the 2012 Playoffs straight from Boston College. Leafs threw Matthew Knies into the fire at the end of 2022-23.

No one is saying Howard needs to play in the playoffs. We're saying that in order to get him signed, guarantee him a few NHL games, rest/scratch guys we don't need to see like Chaffee and Girgensons, play him 12-15 minutes and see what we have. If he's ass, Cooper can staple him to the bench after 7 or 8 minutes, If he's good and is somehow the great complementary passenger that we think he can be, then good.
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Tampa rarely does it, but we'll see. If they think he's the best fit at the end of the season, so be it. I dislike the idea of a player basically demanding playing time or they won't sign. No one even knows if Howard will do that, but I hope that's not his position, as that doesn't seem like the kind of player Tampa usually likes to have in their organization. I hope he makes the team and does well, but I don't see.how he deserves ornhas earned any playing time this season simply because he was a 1st round pick, finally had a really great college year 3 years in, and now *may* take the stance of, "I'll just take my ball and go home if I don't get exactly what I want".
 
Rschmitz said:
Doesn’t he have to play a minimum number of games for that to apply? I think by the time the tourney is over that option will be long gone for him
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No slide. https://puckpedia.com/entry-level-slides

What Is An Entry Level Slide?

When a player on an entry-level contract is 18 or 19 years old1, their entry level contract is slide eligible. This means their team may choose to return them to junior and avoid using a year of their contract. In this case the contract slides. The net effect is that the term length of their contract doesn't start. There are still cap implications for each impacted year.

Exception : A player who signs an entry-level contract at age 19, and then turns 20 before Dec 31 of that year is not slide eligible
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Zwui21 said:
Would seem beyond dumb to me not to go and sign Howard as soon as possible.
Especially with the constant talk of being all in and making the most of our current window.
Howard can make us a better team? My guess is probably, and even if he doesn't right now a year of his ELC is not the end of the world. At the eyes of JBB he has to be a player you get for free that could have a positive impact on your team. And JBB's goal is to make the team better... so this is a no brainer IMO. I would also not risk Howard not signing right now and then end up in another Sammy Walker situation.

Get him signed as soon as possible, get him on the ice with the team as soon as possible, get him on our top9 as soon as possible as well as on our PP2.
This is a Hobey Baker finalist level prospect, and he'll be a great addition to what we need (more scoring).
Click to expand...
I don't think they necessarily need more offense, but if he can add to the scoring depth, great. If he helps the team that's what matters, and I have nothing against Howard, only the idea that he gets to jump other guys who may be about ready for a "cup of coffee" just because of his situation/contract demand (which is still just all hypothetical anyway that he'll even take that position with the team). In the end, if JBB feels he's ready, he'll get his chance, and then it'll be up to Cooper how to best deploy him.
 
JTBF81 said:
I don't think they necessarily need more offense, but if he can add to the scoring depth, great. If he helps the team that's what matters, and I have nothing against Howard, only the idea that he gets to jump other guys who may be about ready for a "cup of coffee" just because of his situation/contract demand (which is still just all hypothetical anyway that he'll even take that position with the team). In the end, if JBB feels he's ready, he'll get his chance, and then it'll be up to Cooper how to best deploy him.
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Nobody thinks Howard is going to completely leap over meritocracy, just that he’s going to get a chance. That’s all the lightning will promise him. If someone else is better suited, Howard will sit. This is legitimately not a concern. All Howard will get is a chance, and he will have to earn his right to stay, and that’s all he expects.

As you’ve mentioned, historically lightning prospects don’t get a chance to even try in the show. That’s all Howard gets is his little cup of coffee.
 
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JTBF81 said:
I don't think they necessarily need more offense, but if he can add to the scoring depth, great. If he helps the team that's what matters, and I have nothing against Howard, only the idea that he gets to jump other guys who may be about ready for a "cup of coffee" just because of his situation/contract demand (which is still just all hypothetical anyway that he'll even take that position with the team). In the end, if JBB feels he's ready, he'll get his chance, and then it'll be up to Cooper how to best deploy him.
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While I understand the overall sentiment of your post here, nobody in the pipeline has a release like Howard does, or at least if they do i'm not aware of it. He is not unlike Kuch was - the IQ and the shooting ability can likely translate to the NHL now but physically he is still 5'10 and can and will get banged around at the NHL level.
 
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