Recent critiques of the Tampa Bay Lightning organizational prospects have pretty much followed the same pattern. They have some capable players that will make the NHL, but at best they are bottom-six forwards that are strong defensively, but aren’t going to do much scoring at the NHL level. With the 31st pick in the 2022 NHL draft last night, general manager Julien BriseBois managed to inject a little offense into that prospect pool with Isaac Howard.
Howard, an 18-year-old left winger from Hudson, Wisconsin, already possesses NHL-level speed and stick-handling. In 60 games with the United States National U18 team he posted 33 goals and added 49 assists.