Team USA have won gold at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship thanks to Isaac Howard's two-goal performance.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a team that has sneaky-good at drafting. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat, and Anthony Cirelli were all selected outside of the first round.
Nikita Kucherov.They have had great success with late-first round selections too, most notable being goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (selected 19th overall in 2012).
While it's too early in the game to determine whether or not any prospects from the 2022 draft are busts or home runs, one player is stating his case to be in the latter category.
Isaac HowardIsaac Howard was selected 31st overall in the 2022 draft. His confidence and swagger on full display as he approached the podium in a white sport coat at the draft.
Isaac Howard, drafted in 2022 by the Tampa Bay LightningToday marks an incredible day for the young man. As a member of Team USA at the World Junior Championship, he is now a Gold-Medal winner - but it doesn't stop there.
Howard scored not one, but TWO goals in the gold medal game. Which included the best kind - the Golden Goal - the goal that serves as the game winner in a Gold Medal game.
Howard receives the puck behind the goal line, walks out just past it and banks the puck in the net off of Hugo Havelid's pad.
The Lightning just might have another gem on their hands.
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