The Tampa Bay Lightning are not expected to sign forward Isaac Howard to an entry-level contract by the time his signing rights expire on August 15, 2026, according to Tampa’s GM, Julien BriseBois.
As a result, speculation has grown regarding landing spots for the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, awarded annually to the top NCAA men's ice hockey player.
Howard, Tampa’s 2022 first-round pick (No. 31), scored 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games in 2024-25 for the Michigan State Spartans, leading the nation in points-per-game (1.41).
He recently committed to returning to the Spartans for 2025-26, meaning the earliest he will see the NHL is the end of the season, but that does not take away trade interest.
While acquiring Howard’s signing rights carries some risk, the situation is likely to work out for Tampa, Howard, and his future team.
In a trade, the Lightning could necessitate a return equal to at least a 2027 second-round pick since this is the compensation they would receive if Howard left as a free agent next offseason.
They would also prefer to get him out of the Atlantic Division, given his upside.
For Howard, the most logical move is to request a trade to his first-choice destination.
Signing his entry-level deal at the season’s end would burn an entire year of the contract, allowing him to reach restricted free agency sooner.
Clearly, if he held out in Tampa, this would not be a possibility.
With that in mind, trade suitors can be reasonably confident they will sign the 21-year-old at the end of the season, as Howard has a clear incentive to join his top choice before the 2026 trade deadline – the cutoff for being on a team’s reserve list to be eligible for that season’s playoffs.
For the New York Islanders, acquiring Howard once seemed like a long shot, but that may no longer be the case.
New York landed the first overall pick in the 2026 Draft and will add an elite talent like Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, or James Hagens.
The Islanders also hired Tampa Bay’s assistant general manager, Mathieu Darche, as their new GM, meaning some familiarity could bode well in the Howard sweepstakes.
While the Islanders were once viewed as an aging team, they added top prospect Calum Ritchie at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, meaning Howard would be joining a young core consisting of himself, Ritchie, the 2026 first-overall pick, Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson, and others.
For now, acquiring Howard is largely speculation, as nobody truly knows what his preferences are.
That said, if he has not yet decided where he hopes to sign following this upcoming season, the Islanders have surely climbed on his list.
Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
Michael Ostrower wrote this story.
PHOTO: Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images