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F Isaac Howard - Michigan State, NCAA (2022, 31st, TBL)

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Pavel Buchnevich

Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
61,851
28,929
New York
This guy looks like the big goal scorer in the 2004 age group from the USA. Goal-scorer type numbers at Shattucks, and he's had two hat-tricks in the first two YOG matches. Most were nice instincts to find open ice and get open. He had one snipe where he beat the goalie from distance. I haven't seen an elite shot, but he does appear to have a good shot and very good goal scoring instincts. He skates well and has some skill and playmaking ability. EP lists him at 5'10, so I'd say size won't be a concern. The only area that stands out is his goal-scoring, but I don't see any huge weaknesses.

Isaac Howard at eliteprospects.com
 
Didn't see a thread on him, saw him on Friday night, was impressed so I looked up his numbers and it appears he's off to a great start to the season. He's slated for UMD in '22-'23.



 
Surprised there isn't more talk on him as his 6 goals, only 1 player in the league has more goals then that. For a 16 year old that's impressive.
 
We seem to have a player like this every year at the NTDP, whether its Wahlstrom, Caufield, Lucius, and now Howard.

I think in terms of raw upside Wahlstrom had the highest upside with the best shot power, best puck handling, best skating, but probably the lowest floor because he probably had the worst hockey sense and playmaking of the four. I find Lucius and Howard to be the most well-rounded of the four, but not hugely dynamic players. Very much middle of the road players in every part of the game, except elite scorers. They'll play in the league and be good goal-scorers, in my opinion, but there's a lack of a dynamic element. Caufield has the most flaws with his game because he's very under-sized and the rest of his game doesn't have any real strengths, but I think he has the best goal-scoring instincts.

I think you'll see a similar draft range for Howard as we saw with Wahlstrom and Caufield, and I expect with Lucius. Wahlstrom was 11th, Caufield 15th, and I expect Lucius this year to be somewhere in that 11-20 range.

Howard is one of the best players in his age group among the NTDP players, but it's a deep age group with some guys who are more hyped, and probably better. Like with Caufield, I think he's simply just a little overshadowed by a few prospects in a good age group for the Americans, although thats not to say he isn't a pretty good prospect who'll likely be a high pick.
 
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Howard has been outstanding for the U17 squad. 1n just 17 games he has an absurd 20 goals and 37 points. He is looking like a potential high first round pick right now. The 2022 USA forward class is special.
 
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QJL said:
Howard has been outstanding for the U17 squad. 1n just 17 games he has an absurd 20 goals and 37 points. He is looking like a potential high first round pick right now. The 2022 USA forward class is special.
Click to expand...

Indeed it is, been saying it for more than a year now, almost 2.
All time best, gonna break the previous record of 1st rounders.
 
GeorgeLeafer12 said:
Indeed it is, been saying it for more than a year now, almost 2.
All time best, gonna break the previous record of 1st rounders.
Click to expand...

They might not have the top end talent that 2019 or even 2021 has, but that U17 team is looking insane. Outside of a horrible year for American prospects in 2020, the USA has had better draft classes than Canada in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Has anyone been watching the U17 games? The numbers Howard and McGroarty have put up so far have been insane. The USDP team has worked wonders for the development of American prospects.
 
I don’t know what to think about this guy. He’s really not that impressive, but he ends the game with a goal or two almost every game. He’s got great scoring instincts, a very deceptive release, make good decisions and has good hands. On the other hand, he’s slightly undersized, doesn’t make many plays with the puck and is an average skater.

I think he’s probably the least impressive sniper of all the recent NTDP snipers, but there’s a threshold where you simply cannot ignore that he scores goals at an elite rate. I haven’t yet decided if Howard’s goal scoring rate transcends his unimpressive play, but it’s something to consider.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
I don’t know what to think about this guy. He’s really not that impressive, but he ends the game with a goal or two almost every game. He’s got great scoring instincts, a very deceptive release, make good decisions and has good hands. On the other hand, he’s slightly undersized, doesn’t make many plays with the puck and is an average skater.

I think he’s probably the least impressive sniper of all the recent NTDP snipers, but there’s a threshold where you simply cannot ignore that he scores goals at an elite rate. I haven’t yet decided if Howard’s goal scoring rate transcends his unimpressive play, but it’s something to consider.
Click to expand...
Howard made a great pass in Team USA's pre-tournament win over Sweden. His sweet cross-ice saucer pass to Ty Gallagher's goal. He spotted Gallagher flying down his off wing but the impressive thing about Howard's pass -- other than the vision to see Gallagher breaking into open ice -- was how he passed the puck across his body on his off wing. Still, he delivered an accurate saucer pass the full width of ice from his blueline to opposing blueline.
 
I've been more impressed by Howard early on this season. Skating looks sharper. I don't know that he's gotten faster, but his edges look better. He's making more plays with the puck. Still has elite offensive instincts. I'm starting to see the type of game that we saw from Matt Coronato a year ago, and he was a very high pick. I think Howard's upside may be like a Jake Guentzel.
 
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I have a really hard time getting a read on this kid. Do people think his skating is good enough at his size (or can get there) to be an impact player as a pro?f
 
Four goals today against Canada, all from getting in good positions around the net. Skating didn’t seem to be an issue at all, kid’s a pure finisher.
 
He's not that dynamic, but he's slick. He can make some plays, but he finds the puck in scoring areas. It rarely looks like Ike's doing much, but he scores goals and puts up points. I like him a little less than Coronato from the last draft, and more than I liked Brink from the 2019 draft. He has some similarities to those guys. Would not take him any earlier than late first round, but if he slips to the second you feel like you are getting a potential steal due to his scoring potential.
 
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Very glad he is having the tournament he has had so far as Howard was the one forward I felt could drop out of the first round based on "narratives".

What he has shown is that he can play on any line, goes to the net/traffic areas and when opportunities arise he cashes in. He isn't going to drive a line, but can find himself somewhere between Caufield and Debrincat with ability to score goals on the ice.

Skating isn't high end but certainly nothing to hold him back. Lower center of gravity/balance for him, he looks really strong on his skates and hard to knock off the puck.

I don't know if he cracks the top 20, but he should be a top 32 pick this year.
 
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Isaac Howard is yet another high-end prospect who came up through the Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school. The left-winger from Hudson, Wisconsin had a big season with the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 squad. He put up 33 goals and 49 assists for 82 points in 60 games. Howard was also a key member of the U.S. squad at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships. He scored six goals and five assists for 11 points in just six tournament games. The performance helped the American team to a silver medal.

lastwordonsports.com

Isaac Howard Scouting Report: 2022 NHL Draft #17

Isaac Howard Scouting Report: Playing with the US NTDP, Howard is a bit undersized for a forward, but has a dynamic skill set.
lastwordonsports.com
 
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