Dubas needs to jump all over this.
Only one scouting report from this season from EP:
December 14th, 2024 - Michigan State Univ. vs. Univ. of Minnesota
By Daniel Gee2025-02-04
Howard looks more explosive, he’s playing at a higher pace, and his strength is creating constant advantages at the NCAA level. He left this game with three goals and an assist, blowing open the score in the third period. Two of his goals came on the rush. The first was a product of his habits throughout the game -- net driving. Howard managed to jam in a dribbling puck. Shortly after, he layered a pass cross-zone, leading to a snipe off the left wing.
His next goal was special, though, a blend of physical skill, skating, and tools. He blew the zone early, upping his pace to get behind the defence, and took the breakaway pass, but felt pressure off his back. Howard actively leaned into the backchecking pressure and flipped the puck top shelf while off balance -- it was a high-end effort. This physical blending was constant -- he leaned into backcheckers lanes to allow easier access to the middle and he won constant positioning -- almost too much to handle for opponents when he drove to the inside. His play was similar off the cycle.
Off-puck, Howard timed his activations into soft space and was consistently open, supporting his puck carriers. He nearly scored in the second, drifting into the hashmarks and dropping to a knee after proactively setting his feet. He scored on a similar play in the third. There was some deception blending throughout this as well - slap passes and fakes to the inside to stagger defenders. This was also a high-effort defensive performance. Howard made a few deft reads, in one case intercepting a dangerous centring pass. A lot of hard, head-down backchecks that ended up sealing weakside passing lanes. He looks like an easy top-six projection; maybe even in a JT Miller-type mould.
