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

[Spurgeon]

And why then, considering your point, is the guy still Tampa property? Could it be because he has one club in mind he will play for and when teams find that out they walk away? Or is it no team sees a second round pick as fair value for him?

Trades take a bit longer than a day to come to fruition, especially with the playoffs underway.

 

[RSchmitz PhD]

And why then, considering your point, is the guy still Tampa property? Could it be because he has one club in mind he will play for and when teams find that out they walk away? Or is it no team sees a second round pick as fair value for him?

Your logic could be applied to any trade and it would make equally as little sense. There is no incentive for the Lightning to trade him right now that still wouldn’t be there if they waited a day, week, or month from now.

They could trade him, but there may be a better environment for it later, the same reason most teams make deals during the draft and around July 1st.

 

[Fatass]

Your logic could be applied to any trade and it would make equally as little sense. There is no incentive for the Lightning to trade him right now that still wouldn’t be there if they waited a day, week, or month from now.

They could trade him, but there may be a better environment for it later, the same reason most teams make deals during the draft and around July 1st.

They can’t trade “him”. They can only trade his “rights”, which has less value (imo) than pick 63 in 2027 which is the compensation for him signing with another club in Aug 2026, when he becomes a UFA.

 

[Dead Coyote]

If I didn't know you were a Sabres fan, I would have sworn this was about my team.

Too real for Seattle too.

Another place I'd love to get Howard for. We're in desperate need of offense.

 

[RSchmitz PhD]

They can’t trade “him”. They can only trade his “rights”, which has less value (imo) than pick 63 in 2027 which is the compensation for him signing with another club in Aug 2026, when he becomes a UFA.

Everyone in this thread is aware that Howard is unsigned and the reason why a trade is being forced, you’re arguing semantics.

No, he does not have less value than the compensation pick he’d receive if he goes unsigned. Whatever logic your using here is failed.

 

[SEALBound]

With the draft capital Dubas has obtained and the need for good young players, Pittsburgh seems like the most logical location.

 

[Maitz]

Unless there is a health reason or a family reason, a drafted player should not decide where he plays on his first contract. It's a privilege to play in the NHL for whatever franchise it is.

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

I love comment sections like this, fans always try and lowball offers because Tampa "has no leverage." This is an auction, highest bidder wins.

Always funny when posters don’t consider that a player might have one destination in mind. Tanks their value since the bidding war is removed.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Always funny when posters don’t consider that a player might have one destination in mind. Tanks their value since the bidding war is removed.

Even more funny when people here just make baseless assumptions like this

 

[Crunchrulz]

With the draft capital Dubas has obtained and the need for good young players, Pittsburgh seems like the most logical location.

Wouldn't it be ironic if the team some of us consider the Lightning to be heading down the path of becoming the mirror image of regarding hanging on the aging fan favorites too long was the team that ended up with Howard and he then flourished?

 

[miscs75]

Wouldn't it be ironic if the team some of us consider the Lightning to be heading down the path of becoming the mirror image of regarding hanging on the aging fan favorites too long was the team that ended up with Howard and he then flourished?

What’s wrong with bringing back fan favorites to hope they can hit the 1000 game mark even if they can barely move on the ice?

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Unless there is a health reason or a family reason, a drafted player should not decide where he plays on his first contract. It's a privilege to play in the NHL for whatever franchise it is.

Seriously. These guys have a once in a generation opportunity to set themselves, their kids, and their grandkids up for life. The least they could do is play hard for the team that is taking a chance on them. But some of these kids are ludicrously entitled and have been since they were very young (see: Gauthier, Cutter).

 

[Fatass]

Seriously. These guys have a once in a generation opportunity to set themselves, their kids, and their grandkids up for life. The least they could do is play hard for the team that is taking a chance on them. But some of these kids are ludicrously entitled and have been since they were very young (see: Gauthier, Cutter).

One more season of college hockey and Howard is a UFA at age 22. He still will only get an ELC but he gets to pick the club he goes to. IMO he has one club in mind. The Bolts could trade his rights, but the return would need to be at least what the compensation will be (63rd pick in 2027)

 

[General Fanager]

Unless there is a health reason or a family reason, a drafted player should not decide where he plays on his first contract. It's a privilege to play in the NHL for whatever franchise it is.

The NHL should close the loophole then. Until then I am surprised more guys don't do this.....

 

[impaaaaaact]

They can’t trade “him”. They can only trade his “rights”, which has less value (imo) than pick 63 in 2027 which is the compensation for him signing with another club in Aug 2026, when he becomes a UFA.

Rutger McGroarty (14th overall) forces trade; return is Brendan Yager (14th overall).

Cutter Gauthier (5th overall) forces trade; return is Drsydale (6th overall) + 2nd.

I’m sure someone picks up Howard for a third though

 

[KingsFan7824]

Unless there is a health reason or a family reason, a drafted player should not decide where he plays on his first contract. It's a privilege to play in the NHL for whatever franchise it is.

That's something that needs to be written into the CBA then. The college guys though, if they stay in school, they're sacrificing 4 years of pay, and time served. When it comes to future free agency, that can be an issue.

You figure he wants to go to Min, Chi, or Det.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Rutger McGroarty (14th overall) forces trade; return is Brendan Yager (14th overall).

Cutter Gauthier (5th overall) forces trade; return is Drsydale (6th overall) + 2nd.

I’m sure someone picks up Howard for a third though

Howard was 31st overall, and already older than either of those other two who forced their way out.

 

[NoelVilla]

Would not trade for him. Sign him as a free-agent maybe but overall it seems to be a risk when young players want to choose a team.

 

[Fatass]

Rutger McGroarty (14th overall) forces trade; return is Brendan Yager (14th overall).

Cutter Gauthier (5th overall) forces trade; return is Drsydale (6th overall) + 2nd.

I’m sure someone picks up Howard for a third though

Isaac Howard drafted 31 OA. 5’10, 180 And one year from UFA.
McGroarty drafted 14OA. 6’1, 205 And traded two years from UFA status.
Cutter Gauthier drafted 5OA. 6’2, 205 And traded two years from UFA status.

Really not comparables to Howard. Tampa knows the value of the compensation will be 63 OA. Imo no club will offer more than that.

 

[montreal]

The NHL should close the loophole then. Until then I am surprised more guys don't do this.....

that's not the loophole as all drafted prospects can refuse to sign with the team that drafted them. The loophole is only for drafted players that don't go directly to the NCAA, those prospects can chose to become UFA's in July after they finish their Junior year. The league tried to chose that loophole but the NHLPA said no.

 

[miscs75]

Rutger McGroarty (14th overall) forces trade; return is Brendan Yager (14th overall).

Cutter Gauthier (5th overall) forces trade; return is Drsydale (6th overall) + 2nd.

I’m sure someone picks up Howard for a third though

Can’t wait to see Willander added to this list and Canucks fans panic.

 

[RussianBum86]

What can Chicago trade (have a lot of excess defensemen)? Looking for a $0.75 on the Dollar type of deal since Tampa’s leverage sucks. So more so a trade Tampa would live with not necessarily one they’d love.

Defenseman propsects

 

[ijuka]

Looks like the next Jimmy Vesey.

 

[Treb]

Unless there is a health reason or a family reason, a drafted player should not decide where he plays on his first contract. It's a privilege to play in the NHL for whatever franchise it is.

Try getting the NHLPA to agree to that.

There's a CBA for a reason.

 

[Djp]

The NHL should close the loophole then. Until then I am surprised more guys don't do this.....

that's not the loophole as all drafted prospects can refuse to sign with the team that drafted them. The loophole is only for drafted players that don't go directly to the NCAA, those prospects can chose to become UFA's in July after they finish their Junior year. The league tried to chose that loophole but the NHLPA said no.

There is no loopholes at all...

For eurooe players it's rights thru June 1 draft yr+4

For 18 yr old CHL players. They refuse to sign, they re-enter the draft at 20, they don't sign then they become UFAS after June 1 4 yrs after originally drafted

With NCAA players it's a little more complicated, but logical....

Because of different stste rules on entering school, you can get the situation of a kid starting college at 17 and not be draft eligible.they get drafted after freshman yr ( Eichel ). The rights are till they graduate of aug 15 if their senior yr

The reason august 15 is because of different college calendars so not to distract students with June 1 deadline who are finishing college and can't sign if under sports scholarship

If they opt to leave school before Jan 1 their sr yr rights revert to June 1 draft yr+4 or 30 days after declaration, which ever is later

With most drafted they are about to start college that year si rights for 5 yrs make sense

The issue people complain about us if they delay college start like playing USHL in year after draft, then go to college. After 3 yrs of college thry can turn pro and it reverts to June 1 draft yr+4 for being a UFA-- but its still 4 yrs post draft


The actual issue that should could things---

NCAA drafted players sign sliding contracts like how CHL players can. Contract signing bonus amount to money NCAA players can currently earn.

If CHL players can go to NCAA complicates this.

It coukd lead to draft changes like in baseball where NCAA commit players can't br drafted at 18 and instead it becomes 21/ 3 yrs after college start ( like how NFL draft eligibility)