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

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This deserves a bump...

Howard has bounced back in a huge way this year with MSU. After scoring a disappointing 17 points in 35 games as a 5-star freshman with UMD, he's got 16 points in only 14 games with the Spartans.

His speed and experience as an '04 should give him a good shot at a top-9 role on a loaded Team USA at the WJCs this winter.

He's also a very clear example of not to stat-watch at the NCAA level too much in terms of a comparative analysis which people love, love to do here. The NCAA is such a huge entity with so many teams, so many styles and such varied level of QoC from game to game - even more so than other junior leagues, a pure counting stat-based analysis of player used in a comparative manner is such a poor, surface-level tool. I cringe when I see people touting NHLe projections based on NCAA stats. Scott Sandelin built a power in Duluth but it was heavily based on gritty defensive play with tons of upper classmen. Howard had a bad 22-23 but more importantly as a freshman he was a bad fit in Duluth. He didn't suddenly get talent he didn't have, he was a first round pick. His situation changed.

It may be a cautionary tale not to completely write-off guys like Charlie Stramel (though don't get me wrong - I am worried about his situation). Or to crown "prospect X" as the "best NHL prospect since/ever..." just because you see their EP stats and a twitter/X sizzle reel with zero context.
 
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He's quite interesting to me. Visually, he doesn't do anything extremely well and his defense is average at best. But he always seems to find the right places on the ice and produces. I was high on him after watching him at the 2022 U18. Glad to see he's at State playing well after UMD being a horrible fit for both parties. Probably a 2nd liner who finishes on chances that Point and Kucherov give him.
 
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How much has Howard benefited playing with Stramel and vice versa?

Are they legitimate NHL prospects or dominating college hockey competition?
 
Deep Blue Metallic said:
Not lacking in self confidence, and backs it up with results on the ice.

Does Howard get playoff time with the Lightning this season after MSU is done?

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He'll get games to end the regular season but no guarantees of getting any playoff games. Bjorkstrand, Gourde, Chaffee, and others up front would have to be horrific and/or injuries would have to occur to guarantee Howard playoff games.
 
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