Lightning & Top Prospect Isaac Howard 'in a Staring Contest' Over Contract

Since his Michigan State Spartans bowed out in the first round of the NCAA tournament, top Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Isaac Howard has been "in a staring contest" over whether/when he will sign with the NHL organization.

For the Lightning, the problem is cap space, of which the Bolts currently have none. That's why an ELC signing cannot take place at the moment. And according to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, they each seem to have different immediate goals:

Currently, both parties find themselves at a bit of an impasse. The most straightforward solution for the Lightning would be to sign Howard to an ATO, allowing him to join Syracuse of the AHL for the remainder of the season. He could then sign his ELC in the summer, set to commence in the 2025-26 season. However, this approach would not allow for a year to be counted against his contract (which is what he would prefer).

A lot of people are asking about Isaac Howard (TBL)

Nothing is done one way or the other, but it's been insinuated that he would prefer to sign and step right into the Bolts lineup to burn a year off of his ELC and get NHL experience.

I expect it gets done.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 28, 2025

Robinson writes that there are indications that a compromise could still be had, if Howard would sign that ATO (amateur tryout deal) with Syracuse, then sign his ELC with Tampa either on the final day of the NHL regular season (when they'd have accumulated enough cap space), or right after the season, in time to join the Lightning for the playoffs. That way, he would get that first year counted against his 3-year contract, even though he wouldn't receive a salary for playing in the postseason.

Howard, 21, is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top college hockey player in the U.S., after finishing third in the nation with 26 goals, and fifth in the country with 52 points, in 37 games. He also had a plus/minus rating of +19.

He was the Bolts' first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (31st overall).