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

[JTBF81]

Yeah Howard is good and all, but he hasn't played with men yet. Give him like 10 minutes for one meaningless game here. The issue is we are in a tight race for first place. The team wants 1st in the division. They are clicking. Bringing in Howard as a variable is not a good idea. Once the team has a good idea what spot they are landing on, bring him in for a game. Its the only way to properly do it. I don't understand how everyone is just like "SIGN HIM NOW! LET HIM PLAY!" when the team is finally clicking and firing on all cylinders. No need to fiddle with it now, he can wait until the second to last game of the season to sign and play one game if need be.

Yeah, I agree entirely. If Tampa is out of ghe race, fine; until that point, no need to meddle with the lineup and insert someone with zero experience at this level during games that have larger importance.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I seriously don't think the team cares about 1st in the Atlantic. They seem to care more about home ice in the 1st Round

Maybe you are right. But even that is a tight race.

 

[JTBF81]

Kreider, Gaudreau, Boeser, Makar, Hughes, Pinto, Power, Beniers, Johnson, Hughes, Knies, Hutson, Blake, Brindley, Nazar, Gauthier, Leonard, Perreault weren't skipping the line, they were good enough to play in the NHL right out of the NCAA. While Howard is not on all of those guys' level, he's certainly good enough to play to end the season, certainly deserves a shot ahead of middling to underwhelming guys on the Lightning like Girgensons, Chaffee, Atkinson.

Girgensons is the only one of those who is consistently playing, and he has a specific role on the 4th line. Howard is definitely not at the level of quite a few of the players you mentioned, and regardless, it's not how Tampa does things. The team is playing great, has plenty of offense atm, and doesn't need someone with zero NHL experience trying to fit in in games this important imo. If Tampa is mathematically eliminated from division titleconvention, then okay, give him a game or two. Otherwise, he can get 6 minutes in the finale against the Rangers when they have cap space, and then he can go to Syracuse..

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Girgensons is the only one of those who is consistently playing, and he has a specific role on the 4th line. Howard is definitely not at the level of quite a few of the players you mentioned, and regardless, it's not how Tampa does things. The team is playing great, has plenty of offense atm, and doesn't need someone with zero NHL experience trying to fit in in games this important imo. If Tampa is mathematically eliminated from division titleconvention, then okay, give him a game or two. Otherwise, he can get 6 minutes in the finale against the Rangers when they have cap space, and then he can go to Syracuse..

I'd rather just waive Atkinson and then Howard get 3-4 games of varying amounts of ice time depending on how well he does and how Cooper sees fit.

 

[ccman68]

He will sign a contract just to burn a year off when we have the cap space. He will not play a single game this year. We are in a playoff race and aren't even giving Geekie chance even though he is way further in his development and has a playstyle more suited for the third line.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He will sign a contract just to burn a year off when we have the cap space. He will not play a single game this year. We are in a playoff race and aren't even giving Geekie chance even though he is way further in his development and has a playstyle more suited for the third line.

I don't think he will sign unless he's guaranteed at least one NHL game. Leverage 101

 

[Zwui21]

 

[JTBF81]

I'd rather just waive Atkinson and then Howard get 3-4 games of varying amounts of ice time depending on how well he does and how Cooper sees fit.

Well, I'd rather not. Geekie is lighting it up lately for the Crunch, so yeah, if a prospect is in line for some playing time, it should be him. I don't think the team should mess with what they have working right now anyway, as I 100% believe they want the division and a path where they don't have to go through both the Panthers and likely the Leafs b2b. I feel even more confident that if Howard does force his way in, Cooper certainly won't cave and give him premium roles or ice time that he hasn't earned nor frankly, deserves yet.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

geekie had his shot, I don’t think he needs anyone to white knight him here.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

geekie had his shot, I don’t think he needs anyone to white knight him here.

+5

Let the kid cook. We don't need to overthink it by comparing Howard's career path at any point

 

[JTBF81]

geekie had his shot, I don’t think he needs anyone to white knight him here.

Good thing then that players get more than one chance in Tampa usually, especially when they've put in the work and it's starting to pay off. Geekie probably doesn't get back in the line up this year either, but he's done more to be first in line than most anyone else.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

geekie had his shot, I don’t think he needs anyone to white knight him here.

Should have said the same thing about Goncalves. He had multiples and it finally worked out.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

Good thing then that players get more than one chance in Tampa usually, especially when they've put in the work and it's starting to pay off. Geekie probably doesn't get back in the line up this year either, but he's done more to be first in line than most anyone else.

Of course he will get another chance? Like what?

 

[RussianGuyovich]

Should have said the same thing about Goncalves. He had multiples and it finally worked out.

Yeah, like exactly what I said?

 

[RussianGuyovich]

I’ve been saying since the beginning that I’m not doing a geekie vs Howard comparison. I just wanna sign the boy and see what he has. Other posters are creating this false dichotomy narrative for: reasons?

We all want both players to do well.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I’ve been saying since the beginning that I’m not doing a geekie vs Howard comparison. I just wanna sign the boy and see what he has. Other posters are creating this false dichotomy narrative for: reasons?

We all want both players to do well.

Its the narrative that people are pushing that not signing him is going to be something catastrophic for the organization. people think Howard is the second coming of Hagel or something.

Yeah, like exactly what I said?

Not from what I read? What you said about Geekie having his chance already. Well so did Goncalves. We sent him down multiple times over 2 years and he finally figured it out. Just because Geekie has his shot, doesn't mean he shouldn't come back up this year or playoffs.

 

[JTBF81]

Of course he will get another chance? Like what?

You said, "he had his shot". Okay, and imo he deserves another before they try and force Hiward in with 0 experience

 

[RussianGuyovich]

You said, "he had his shot". Okay, and imo he deserves another before they try and force Hiward in with 0 experience

I think best thing for geekie is a long ahl playoffs. So we differ here. Best thing for Howard is for the coaches to see what he has. Ahl would be great. NHL is also fine. You just have some “entitlement” opinion that I don’t agree with.

 

[JTBF81]

I think best thing for geekie is a long ahl playoffs. So we differ here. Best thing for Howard is for the coaches to see what he has. Ahl would be great. NHL is also fine. You just have some “entitlement” opinion that I don’t agree with.

I don't agree with any player getting to play because they feel "entitled" to do so or they may not sign. Howard can go dominate in the AHL, if he can, and then he can earn his spot, like basically every other Tampa has had to do for quite some time under this leadership.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

I hope Howard gets signed and plays in the nhl and also they give him the closest parking spot and also Girgs locker.

 

[JTBF81]

I think a nice long playoffs in the AHL will be good for Howard and Geekie, and then next year's camp and preseason should be quite a fun one between them and 2 or 3 others for a spot or two. If Geekie does finish at this pace in the AHL reg season though, I wouldn't mind seeing him back in Tampa this year.

 

[Stelio Kontos]

I just watch our bottom 6 and think can Howard really be a downgrade For a game or two? They aren’t scoring put goncalves on the 4th. Howard with Gourde and Bjorkstrand.

Is scratching perbix or Lilleberg really a game breaker? I don’t think so
I feel like people assume Howard is going to come in and suck but what if he’s actually really good?

 

[RDTBay4]

I'd take Geekie over Howard right now. His time will come for us hopefully.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I'd take Geekie over Howard right now. His time will come for us hopefully.

For an extended stretch, you have a decent point. For 2-3 games, I don't think Howard is worse (or any better). I think Howard coming into the lineup could be a boon

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

For an extended stretch, you have a decent point. For 2-3 games, I don't think Howard is worse (or any better). I think Howard coming into the lineup could be a boon

This is really about asset management more than anything. Keep Howard happy and get him signed to avoid headaches down the road. Is it fair to others in the organization? No, but that’s just how the rules are set.