Isaac Howard shocks everyone, returns to Michigan State hockey for senior year

Major Michigan State hockey news surfaced again on Wednesday and boy was it big.

Multiple sources confirmed that current Hobey Baker Award finalist Isaac Howard is returning to East Lansing this fall for his senior season. A move that most people did not expect to happen after Ike’s terrific junior year in the green and white. 



The news first was ran this morning by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman in his “32 Thoughts” podcast. See Friedge’s comments in the tweet about Isaac below from Jeff Middleton.

Rumors of a potential impasse between Ike and Tampa have been speculated for some time now, but the ramifications of Ike going back to EL and what that means for his draft rights made it seem unlikely he would be back. After some back and forth, it appears Ike has made up his mind that he will come back for one more season.


This seems to be a pretty decent bet on himself by Ike. There are also some other factors in play that makes this an interesting decision by both Tampa and Isaac. Should Isaac have another big year, that could force the Lightning to pay out more than they’d like to sign him. There’s also the inherent risk of injury or a down year playing out and the Lightning than having more negotiating power.

First: Tampa Bay and Howard seemed to be both assuming he would turn pro after this season. He played outstanding this year, proving that he is one of the top forwards in college hockey. The most obvious step from that point would have been to turn pro and join either Tampa or their AHL affiliate down the stretch and into next year.

Tampa seemed keen on this, too. 



Howard was their first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Tampa invested a lot of draft capital in Howard. With NHL prospects, when you draft them, the general rule is that you have their rights for four years after that. The organization and the player can determine from their what the prospect’s best chance to develop is and allow them to do that. Once the club feels it’s time for them to turn pro and get into the organization, they will sign the player to an Entry Level Contract. If a club does not sign their prospect to an ELC within that four-year window, their draft rights expire and the player becomes and unrestricted free agent and can sign with any club they'd like.

That window is a big factor in Howard's scenario. Tampa has until Aug. 15, 2026, to sign Isaac to his ELC or they will lose his draft rights. For a first-round pick, that would be disastrous. Such a high pick and draft capital used on a player, you definitely want to see him in your organization. 



Howard returning to East Lansing for another year will give him approximately four months after next year before his rights expire. Should next season go well for Ike, he could demand more money or different terms on his ELC which would either force the Bolts to either sign him for a less team friendly deal, or risk losing him.

What is now seemingly more likely by the day for Tampa is that they will have Howard return to Michigan State and in the mean time, work on a potential deal for his NHL rights with another club. With Tampa’s championship window assumably coming to an end sooner than later, they can not afford to lose out on an asset like a first-round pick. A safety net for them would try to potentially deal Howard's rights to another club and try to recoup as much as possible so they have assets to spend come rebuild time. 


One would think there should be multiple suitors for Howard's talent. A first-round talent who is coming off the best season of his career is something a lot of clubs will covet. If there is a suitor, they could acquire Ike and offer him what he is looking for in an ELC. Isaac could then accept it and turn pro like planned assuming his NIL money doesn’t exceed that already. 



If you are an MSU fan, this news is very reassuring.

Howard coming back allows the Spartans to bring back arguably the best line in hockey from this past season with him, Stramel, and Russell all back in East Lansing. Combine that with the return of the best goalie in college hockey in Trey Augustine, a top-tier recruiting class incoming, and a big portal addition defenseman, it appears as if the Spartans will again be one of the favorites for the Frozen Four in Las Vegas next spring. 



The way things are shaping up early on here, Munn will be the place to be this fall. Get excited, Spartan fans, it seems like the disappointing end to this season could be fueling something spectacular for next.