News: Lightning GM Julien Brisebois says it’s ‘unlikely’ top prospect Isaac Howard signs with club

[bleedgreen]

I saw references to the Fox trade early, and I think it stands if you know the team he wants to go to. The Canes got a couple of picks out of the Rangers even though everyone know he would only go there.

 

[mouser]

Sorry, but that argument makes little sense. Tampa could certainly sign him right now if they thought he was a difference maker. The only reasons why they don’t are: they don’t think he’s a difference maker, or he refuses to sign because he’s got one club in mind he wants to play for. So when he does go to this club, he will be 22. Hope he’s as good as he thinks he is.

Now that Tampa has been eliminated they can no longer burn a year on Howard’s ELC.

The urgency for Howard to sign immediately with Tampa vs take time to consider his options has decreased significantly.

 

[JadedRandom]

5'11" and 190 is not tiny

Posted a nice 26 goal season

Doesn't have to be a difference maker.

Projects to be a nice 3rd liner that can spot up on 2nd line

If the Rangers can get him, they should.

I'd trade Kreider for him and retain 25%

I don't have the same read on Howard.

I think there's a lot to like about Howard's game at the NCAA level as an offensive player, and think he's developed quite a bit since his freshman year for Minnesota-Duluth.

I'm "higher" on Howard's offensive potential at the NHL level than you seem to be.

But I think Howard would need very specific teammates that go to the hard areas of the ice for him to be a "fit" on a 3rd or 4th line since his speed and versatile offensive game won't be at their best on a checking line.

And that, combined with the fact that I also think Howard isn't a very strong defensive player by NHL standards, nor is he currently very stout along the boards, or a high-end energy player, make those middle-6 projections that you mentioned just harder for me to see.

That's about where I stand on Howard.

But I'd actually like the Canadiens to acquire him nonetheless.

Right now, aside from Demidov + the current first-line there is nobody good enough for a long-term scoring-line role with the Canadiens.

Dach is inconsistent and injured too much, Newhook has Hockey IQ problems, Joshua Roy is too slow unfortunately, and the other hopefuls are more 3rd-line types aside from Hage, who needs at least another but possibly two more years before he's NHL-ready.

So yeah, Isaac Howard might actually be a good option to target for Montreal. Howard's a bit slight, and soft for an already-small/soft Canadiens team, but if the Canadiens sign/acquire a veteran 2C with some amount of grit, it could work with him and Demidov as second-line wingers for next season.

Moreso if Montreal bolsters the bottom-6's grit like they are very likely to do this season, adding Beck and potentially Florian Xhekaj as 3rd/4th-liners. And the changes at D that are expected to come.

Long story short, I'd be down for the Canadiens to give up PIT's 2nd in this year's draft and a lesser prospect that might interest TB in exchange for a signed Howard.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Biggest question is does Howard not want to sign in Tampa Bay or does his agent not want him to sign in Tampa Bay? Either way, as others have noted, if his rights are dealt it has to be either with a sign and trade in place or to a franchise him/his agent wants to sign with.

 

[pld459666]

I don't have the same read on Howard.

I think there's a lot to like about Howard's game at the NCAA level as an offensive player, and think he's developed quite a bit since his freshman year for Minnesota-Duluth.

I'm "higher" on Howard's offensive potential at the NHL level than you seem to be.

But I think Howard would need select teammates to be a "fit" on a 3rd or 4th line since his speed and versatile offensive game won't be at their best with lesser teammates to get him the puck.

And that, combined with the fact that I also think Howard isn't a very strong defensive player by NHL standards, nor is he currently very stout along the boards, or a high-end energy player, make those middle-6 projections that you mentioned a bit harder for me to see.

That's about where I stand on Howard.

But I'd actually like the Canadiens to acquire him nonetheless.

Right now, aside from Demidov there is nobody good enough for a long-term second-line role with the Canadiens.

Dach is inconsistent and injured too much, Newhook has Hockey IQ problems, Joshua Roy is too slow unfortunately, and the other hopefuls are more 3rd-line types aside from Hage, who needs at least another but possible two more years before he's NHL-ready.

So yeah, Isaac Howard might actually be a good option to target for Montreal. Howard's a bit slight, and soft for an already-small/soft Canadiens team, but if the Canadiens sign/acquire a veteran 2C with some amount of grit, it could work with him and Demidov as second-line wingers.

Moreso if Montreal bolsters the bottom-6's grit like they are very likely to do this season, adding Beck and potentially Florian Xhekaj as 3rd/4th-liners.

Long story short, I'd be down for the Canadiens to give up #43 in this year's draft and a lesser prospect that might interest TB in exchange for a signed Howard.

My hesitancy stems from his NCAA career.
6
8
26

Either he figured it out, or he benefited from being the best offensive player on a mediocre team.

For me, there is risk there

If he earned the 2nd line role, fine, but conservatively slotting him at LW3 prevents disappointment.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

The Flyers have 2 late picks so I would be interested in flipping one of them for Howard.

 

[mouser]

Biggest question is does Howard not want to sign in Tampa Bay or does his agent not want him to sign in Tampa Bay? Either way, as others have noted, if his rights are dealt it has to be either with a sign and trade in place or to a franchise him/his agent wants to sign with.

The sign and trade option is dead now. The only reason it could have been on the table is Tampa was the only team which could burn the 2024-25 season on his ELC after the trade deadline. Now that Tampa can no longer burn the 2024-25 year there’s no potential advantage for Tampa, Howard, or a third Team to negotiate a sign and trade,

 

[Crunchrulz]

The sign and trade option is dead now. The only reason it could have been on the table is Tampa was the only team which could burn the 2024-25 season on his ELC after the trade deadline. Now that Tampa can no longer burn the 2024-25 year there’s no potential advantage for Tampa, Howard, or a third Team to negotiate a sign and trade,

Faire enuff. TYVM for clearing that up.

 

[jackjohnson]

He would be much better of with Montreal if they get a 2c and he lines up with 2c and Demidov.

Montreal already have lots of good wingers in top 6. Caufield, Slav, Demidov, Gallagher, Anderson, Laine etc. Canucks with Boeser gone will have what? Debrusk, Garland??? Suter might go elsewhere and he usually plays center. Hoglander is up and down and the rest are young prospects like Lekkermaki.

 

[vcanuck]

maybe he wants to join Cooper in Vancouver.

 

[DJN21]

How does Isaac feel about high taxes, cold weather, a dejected fanbase, a meddling cheapskate owner, incompetent management, and a dearth of all hope?

The one mandate is from our GM is that we have players who want to be in Buffalo, so he has to kinda be into those things, ideally with a low sense of self worth.

All this and left out the palm trees?! Come on mannnn

 

[jackjohnson]

In the last 11 years, 9 Hobey Baker award winners became NHLers. 6 of them became star players.

Gaudreau, Eichel, Makar, Caufield, Celebrini, Fantilli

I'm guessing Howard becomes a decent middle 6 player

I take that especially if he is free to sign or very cheap to trade for.

 

[jackjohnson]

maybe he wants to join Cooper in Vancouver.

Best time for Alvin to man up and do something and convince Hughes to stay. Cooper would be a start and maybe getting players like Howard for cheap for be something.

 

[theVladiator]

Seems to me that the club that trades for Howard would still get a comp 2nd rounder if Howard doesn't sign. Should be quite easy to find a taker for a 2nd rounder + conditional. The conditional pick would depend on the market (whoever offers more). At least a 2nd, but possibly a 1st.

Another option for Tampa is to treat it as pseudo-UFA. Register interest from teams with understanding they would part with late-1st to early 2nd if Howard signs with them, and then give those teams permission to speak to Howard.

 

[jackjohnson]

Seems to me that the club that trades for Howard would still get a comp 2nd rounder if Howard doesn't sign. Should be quite easy to find a taker for a 2nd rounder + conditional. The conditional pick would depend on the market (whoever offers more). At least a 2nd, but possibly a 1st.

Another option for Tampa is to treat it as pseudo-UFA. Register interest from teams with understanding they would part with late-1st to early 2nd if Howard signs with them, and then give those teams permission to speak to Howard.

No way any team gives up a 1st round pick for an unsigned prospect. Even if he was a signed prospect, for a sign and trade, no team will give up a 1st for him. He is still an unproven commodity and a 1st round pick is worth a lot.

 

[gstommylee]

There is also no guarantee who ever he signs with will actually keep him on the NHL roster after a few games especially if he struggles early on. So waiting out until he's done with college and sign with some team and still ends up in the AHL all that pretty much happens is delaying his next contract by a year.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Odd to not take his chances on a still strong Tampa roster.

 

[gstommylee]

Odd to not take his chances on a still strong Tampa roster.

He believes he feels like he deserves that NHL roster spot right away For a late first round draft pick eh i feel like he's gonna be in a rude awakening.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

It's a shame that TBL doesn't have their own first round pick, otherwise I would have suggested 10th overall for Howard and the 2xth pick.

 

[gstommylee]

It's a shame that TBL doesn't have their own first round pick, otherwise I would have suggested 10th overall for Howard and the 2xth pick.

why would anyone want to give up a high first round pick on someone that just likely to wait it out.

 

[Fatass]

Odd to not take his chances on a still strong Tampa roster.

Really? One more year of college and he’s a UFA.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

why would anyone want to give up a high first round pick on someone that just likely to wait it out.

Because he's likely going to be traded and will sign with the team that trades for him. It isn't a situation where you are going to sign him on the open market.

 

[gstommylee]

Because he's likely going to be traded and will sign with the team that trades for him. It isn't a situation where you are going to sign him on the open market.

Again there is no guarantee who he signs with will actually give him NHL roster time right away and could very well still end up in the AHL. He's not going to get tampa a first round pick in a return...

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

Again there is no guarantee who he signs with will actually give him NHL roster time right away and could very well still end up in the AHL. He's not going to get tampa a first round pick in a return...

My suggestion wasn't a first round pick. It was a move down in the first hypothetically.

 

[Fatass]

Because he's likely going to be traded and will sign with the team that trades for him. It isn't a situation where you are going to sign him on the open market.

He’s a year away from UFA status. Unless it’s a trade to his preferred final destination he’s not signing. That values him at a mid round pick.