Speculation: Isaac Howard & Tampa's Cap Crunch

[JKG33]

Tampa wants to sign Howard to a tryout for the AHL, with an ELC for 2025-26. Howard wants to play in the NHL now.

As a neutral fan I'd love to see him get added to Tampa's lineup for the playoffs.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Atkinson can be sent back down no?

 

[TLEH]

Seems like a small mistake to not have thought about this. Especially if Howard can help them now, which I think he can.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Atkinson can be sent back down no?

Yes, technically the issue probably is a few things.

1) Tampa usually is at the cap ceiling, having cheap good contracts for as long as possible is imperative for the team. Burning a year is not something they want to do.
2) Tampa doesn't want to use their last call up before the end of the season just in case. Maybe they don't want deal with emergency call-up situation.
3) My other speculative thing is if the team is depending on pushing for 1st in the Atlantic or at least home ice in the first round. Team is doing better, last couple of losses were not "bad" losses, just got goalie'd. Throwing in Howard to play 6 or 7 minutes on the bottom line with Glendenning and Girgensons probably isn't worth it to the team.

Who knows how it ends up, but Tampa is not usually a team to bend the knee for a roster player, let alone a prospect.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Yes, technically the issue probably is a few things.

1) Tampa usually is at the cap ceiling, having cheap good contracts for as long as possible is imperative for the team. Burning a year is not something they want to do.
2) Tampa doesn't want to use their last call up before the end of the season just in case. Maybe they don't want deal with emergency call-up situation.
3) My other speculative thing is if the team is depending on pushing for 1st in the Atlantic or at least home ice in the first round. Team is doing better, last couple of losses were not "bad" losses, just got goalie'd. Throwing in Howard to play 6 or 7 minutes on the bottom line with Glendenning and Girgensons probably isn't worth it to the team.

Who knows how it ends up, but Tampa is not usually a team to bend the knee for a roster player, let alone a prospect.

I was looking more at the cap implications but those are all great points

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I was looking more at the cap implications but those are all great points

Honestly, if it was me, I would just send Atkinsons down. Its not like he's doing anything on the team anyway.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I know it's past the trade deadline, but couldn't Tampa technically still pay a non-playoff team to take Atkinson if it came down to it?

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

I know it's past the trade deadline, but couldn't Tampa technically still pay a non-playoff team to take Atkinson if it came down to it?

sure but he's waiver exempt so no real point

 

[JKG33]

Seems like a small mistake to not have thought about this. Especially if Howard can help them now, which I think he can.

In Tampa's defence, it does seem like MSU choked and should've been playing for another few weeks yet. They probably didn't expect Howard to be available this soon when they were making deadline moves

 

[JKG33]

Yes, technically the issue probably is a few things.

1) Tampa usually is at the cap ceiling, having cheap good contracts for as long as possible is imperative for the team. Burning a year is not something they want to do.
2) Tampa doesn't want to use their last call up before the end of the season just in case. Maybe they don't want deal with emergency call-up situation.
3) My other speculative thing is if the team is depending on pushing for 1st in the Atlantic or at least home ice in the first round. Team is doing better, last couple of losses were not "bad" losses, just got goalie'd. Throwing in Howard to play 6 or 7 minutes on the bottom line with Glendenning and Girgensons probably isn't worth it to the team.

Who knows how it ends up, but Tampa is not usually a team to bend the knee for a roster player, let alone a prospect.

I agree with most of your points, but since the rest of the regular season doesn't really matter for Tampa, wouldn't you want to get Howard some time now where you can try him in the top 6 (move Paul and Goncalves down 1 line each) and evaluate him for a role in the playoffs? Tampa isn't exactly swimming in forward depth, especially since they're pretty much healthy and still opting to go with 11F-7D.

Idk, maybe I'm in the minority here, but Tampa does seem pretty set on "future be damned" with their trading away draft picks. Howard for this playoff run needing a new contract in July 2027 seems more valuable for their window than an extra year of Howard on an ELC in 2027-28.

 

[creg]

EF on 32 thoughts today pretty much outright said that he heard directly from Tampa that there's a plan in place and that he expects it get's done (after speculating about it last week). We've been on a 4 game road trip with Atkinson, so my assumption is they probably waive him when we get home and that's when the signing happens.

Obviously Tampa fans would prefer that we don't burn a year of the ELC but given that we have 0 leverage I'm sure he'll get some games this year; probably some offensive zone starts with Hagel & Cirelli similar to what we gave Geekie most of the season.

 

[JKG33]

EF on 32 thoughts today pretty much outright said that he heard directly from Tampa that there's a plan in place and that he expects it get's done (after speculating about it last week). We've been on a 4 game road trip with Atkinson, so my assumption is they probably waive him when we get home and that's when the signing happens.

Obviously Tampa fans would prefer that we don't burn a year of the ELC but given that we have 0 leverage I'm sure he'll get some games this year; probably some offensive zone starts with Hagel & Cirelli similar to what we gave Geekie most of the season.

This is what I was looking for, hadn't listened to the episode yet.

I think it'd be smart to give him some offensive opportunities these next few games. See what they've got with the player.

I could see him scoring a big OT goal or two these playoffs if he's a 4th liner. Talent with fresher legs is valuable this time of year

 

[uncleben]

EF on 32 thoughts today pretty much outright said that he heard directly from Tampa that there's a plan in place and that he expects it get's done (after speculating about it last week). We've been on a 4 game road trip with Atkinson, so my assumption is they probably waive him when we get home and that's when the signing happens.

Obviously Tampa fans would prefer that we don't burn a year of the ELC but given that we have 0 leverage I'm sure he'll get some games this year; probably some offensive zone starts with Hagel & Cirelli similar to what we gave Geekie most of the season.

Tampa has 100% of the leverage.

They hold his rights until August 2026.
Kid's got a big head, and if Tampa doesn't want to give him a contract this year and he refuses an AHL deal, then that's it for his season.

 

[JKG33]

Tampa has 100% of the leverage.

They hold his rights until August 2026.
Kid's got a big head, and if Tampa doesn't want to give him a contract this year and he refuses an AHL deal, then that's it for his season.

I wouldn't say they have ALL the leverage. At this point he's only one year away from UFA. He could easily play out that last NCAA season if Tampa trys to f*** him

 

[creg]

Tampa has 100% of the leverage.

They hold his rights until August 2026.
Kid's got a big head, and if Tampa doesn't want to give him a contract this year and he refuses an AHL deal, then that's it for his season.

Sure, but isn't there the risk of him just going back to college and signing with another team once he becomes a free agent? I'm sure Tampa has offered an AHL deal (as reported) and I'm positive Howard's camp has denied it otherwise it would've already been signed.

This is what I was looking for, hadn't listened to the episode yet.

I think it'd be smart to give him some offensive opportunities these next few games. See what they've got with the player.

I could see him scoring a big OT goal or two these playoffs if he's a 4th liner. Talent with fresher legs is valuable this time of year

I'm lower on Howard than most Tampa fans but I do think it's worth seeing what we have (especially if we're running 11/7, clearly there is a roster spot available). I think his position is a bit precarious in the lineup, he doesn't really fit with Giregensons/Glendenning - and our other "rookie" Goncalves has been decent enough on the third line.

My hope is he can have a positive impact offensively and get some 2nd line minutes so we can have a great 3rd line of Gourde/Paul/Bjorkstrand - but this would be a big ask of a young player as Hagel & Cirelli play some of the toughest minutes in the league.

 

[TLEH]

Tampa has 100% of the leverage.

They hold his rights until August 2026.
Kid's got a big head, and if Tampa doesn't want to give him a contract this year and he refuses an AHL deal, then that's it for his season.

He can play one more year of college, get paid a bit of money to go back, and then sign with whoever he wants. Thats certainly not all the leverage.

 

[SomeDude]

‘staring content’

If everyone is content, it sounds like things are going well.

 

[JKG33]

Sure, but isn't there the risk of him just going back to college and signing with another team once he becomes a free agent? I'm sure Tampa has offered an AHL deal (as reported) and I'm positive Howard's camp has denied it otherwise it would've already been signed.


I'm lower on Howard than most Tampa fans but I do think it's worth seeing what we have (especially if we're running 11/7, clearly there is a roster spot available). I think his position is a bit precarious in the lineup, he doesn't really fit with Giregensons/Glendenning - and our other "rookie" Goncalves has been decent enough on the third line.

My hope is he can have a positive impact offensively and get some 2nd line minutes so we can have a great 3rd line of Gourde/Paul/Bjorkstrand - but this would be a big ask of a young player as Hagel & Cirelli play some of the toughest minutes in the league.

Whatever happened to Geekie anyway? I feel like he should be in the lineup instead of 7D but maybe he's not ready yet.

Top 6 forward in the playoffs is a big ask, but I think offensively he can do it, especially on a line with two very responsible players like Hagel and Cirelli. Especially when it allows for a very good 3rd line with Paul and a competent addition to the 4th in Goncalves.

 

[MNRube]

If they don’t value him, why would they have held onto him so long whilst selling off every prospect and draft pick they have? They will figure it out.

 

[Power Surge]

Hopefully we figure it out because If he works out, I see him as a future trade piece for our eventual rebuild.

 

[chaser17]

Knew this kid was cocky as all hell the second he appeared on camera at the draft.

 

[creg]

Whatever happened to Geekie anyway? I feel like he should be in the lineup instead of 7D but maybe he's not ready yet.

Top 6 forward in the playoffs is a big ask, but I think offensively he can do it, especially on a line with two very responsible players like Hagel and Cirelli. Especially when it allows for a very good 3rd line with Paul and a competent addition to the 4th in Goncalves.

Geekie had a good freshman season with the bolts, but was very clearly struggling to put it all together as a first year. I think sending him down was more for his own development than anything - get him some 1st line minutes rather than playing 9 minutes a night. After a slow start he's absolutely lighting it up in the AHL now, I honestly think with a full off-season of training and with some extra weight put on he'll look like a completely different player next season.

Yeah, top 6 would be a big ask but I could see them deploying him similarly to how they deployed Geekie - give him the o-zone and neutral zone starts and slide one of the many solid defensive forwards for the d-zone (we're also still looking for that 5th forward for the powerplay which I could see him getting a look on).

 

[mouser]

Howard’s level of play this season combined with his junior year class status make it entirely reasonable for him to demand Tampa burns 2024-25 on the ELC.

And it isn’t that difficult to do. If Tampa is concerned about trying to insert him into the lineup immediately then simply wait until the final couple games of the regular season before loaning Atkinson to make room for the signing.

 

[wickedwitch]

I think this gets worked out.

But also, how was this not worked out ahead of time? Losing in the first round was a huge upset, but losing in the second round would not have been. I know the Caps purposely left room for Leonard's contract.

 

[Master P]

And it isn’t that difficult to do. If Tampa is concerned about trying to insert him into the lineup immediately then simply wait until the final couple games of the regular season before loaning Atkinson to make room for the signing.

Feels like this is the correct option, and from everything we've heard there isn't any bad blood between the two parties.

So its likely just a little bit of a wait.