Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois confirmed at the end of the season that former first-round pick, Isaac Howard is unlikely to sign with the organization, potentially setting the stage for an early trade or free agency departure in 2026.
“When I chatted with Isaac, he was pretty candid, and I appreciated his honesty, and I thanked him for his honesty,” BriseBois said. “He values the opportunity to choose the club that he believes is the best fit for him. And I won’t speak for him, but he values that. Right now, I would say it’s unlikely that we will sign him.”
Howard is the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, an annual award presented to the top NCAA men's ice hockey player. He is considered to be one of the top prospects in college hockey.
Under the NHL and NHLPA CBA, teams hold the rights to drafted NCAA prospects for four seasons. In this case, the Lightning drafted Howard in the first round, 31st overall of the 2022 NHL draft. He has completed three NCAA seasons, meaning that after he plays his senior year, he will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 2026.
“I had regular communication with him and his agent throughout the years,” BriseBois said. “Our development staff, JP Cote in particular, spends a lot of time with all of our prospects, So it’s always a possibility, but yeah, it was a surprise.”
“The scenarios are either he gets traded prior to August 15, 2026, or he goes to free agency on August 15, 2026. Those are the two likely scenarios.”
So what does that mean heading into this summer?
With Howard generating a lot of interest around the league, the assumption is that the Bolts will try to trade his rights before August 2026. The Lightning have a limited amount of draft capital and are eyeing immediate upgrades to their roster.
The Michigan State forward scored 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games in 2024-25 and led the nation in points-per-game (1.41). He’s a player that can provide value to teams that are looking to build for the future.
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