Top Lightning prospect Isaac Howard won’t turn pro yet, will remain at Michigan State
A top college hockey star is going to hit the books for at least one more year.
According to multiple reports, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Isaac Howard has elected not to sign his first NHL contract, deciding to return to Michigan State for his senior season.
I can confirm that Isaac Howard is returning to Michigan State.
The Hobey Baker finalist and reigning Big Ten player of the year scored 52 points last season. Howard was a 1st round pick of Tampa Bay in 2022. He’ll be a UFA if he’s still unsigned next August.
The issue that has seemed to have risen since Howard and the Spartans’ season came to a close was that the Lightning and Howard’s camp were not on the same page about the terms of his first deal. Some reports say that the Lightning were willing to bring him on board, but he would’ve been to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
It is surprising, given how the Lightning have been pretty open about their support for the Hudson, Wisconsin native this past year, which saw Howard score 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors.
Now, the deadline for Howard to sign with Tampa becomes a factor. Per the rules between the NCAA and NHL, players who play collegiately have to sign four years after being drafted. That means the Lightning and Howard have to come to an agreement by Aug. 15, 2026.
Howard’s play has made him a Hat Trick Finalist for this year’s Hobey Baker Award. He is currently ranked fifth in the NCAA in points, just five back of Denver forward and Florida Panthers prospect Jack Devine.
Howard is the second big-name player to announce that he is returning to East Lansing for one more run. Earlier this month, Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect and Mike Richter Award finalist Trey Augustine announced that he will rejoin the Spartans for his junior campaign.
While Lightning fans might be uneasy about Howard’s decision, MSU supporters are going to be happy. With Howard and Augustine back with the Spartans for one more year, the team has the ingredients to be a top team in the country once again. Michigan State was hanging near the top of the polls, winning the Big Ten Regular Season and Conference Championships for a second straight season.
Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to success in the national tournament. The Spartans lost to ECAC Champion Cornell in the opening round last month.