Well, it looks like we’re going to have to wait at least one more season until the Ice Man arrives in Tampa. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s top non-professional prospect is returning to Michigan State for one more season of collegiate hockey. There was some speculation that Howard would sign this spring, especially after the Spartans were bounced from the NCAA championships a little earlier than everyone expected.
What does it all mean? In the short term, nothing. The Lightning still hold his draft rights. He is still one of their top prospects, and Howard gets to go back to being one of the top players in the college system.