Winning has followed Isaac Howard everywhere he’s been, and the past year was no exception.
The Lightning’s first-round pick in 2022, Howard was a standout in his first season at Michigan State in points (36) and helped the Spartans go 25-10-3 en route to a Big Ten title. The forward also helped the United States win gold at the world junior championships.
“I think it’s important to win, to be in a winning culture,” Howard said. “It was good to have a year like that, a lot of winning, knowing how to win big titles. I’m excited to go back (to college) and see what we can do again.”
Howard, one of the Lightning’s top prospects, is in Florida for his third development camp stint.
“(Returnees) like Isaac, they know the program; they know how we operate,” said Stacy Roest, the Lightning’s assistant general manager/director of player personnel. “So now, it’s just making sure they’re going along the right path, which they are.”
Howard said Michigan State has been a place of improvement for him over the last year after transferring from Minnesota Duluth.
“We’re the hardest-working team in college hockey,” Howard said. “That’s a culture I want to be a part of. I thought that was awesome. Never taking days off, and I think that just helped me grow my tank, energy levels and muscle.”
At the world juniors, Howard tied for the most goals in the tournament (seven), including two in the gold medal tilt. Just like at Michigan State, Howard said the tournament taught him how to close out tournaments and big games.
Competition to kick up in camp
Prospects will present their skills in the 3-on-3 tournament the final two days Thursday and Friday, though there won’t be any contact.
“Some guys, like let’s be honest ... they’re not 3-on-3 players,” said JP Cote, Lightning director of player development. “Maybe they’re defensemen, maybe they’re a hardworking, tough-to-play-against guy. But to see the details (and) the way they approach the games, this is what I like to focus on. Going into practices, I’m really passionate about it, our staff is passionate about it, and I think going into the 3-on-3 hopefully the guys gather a little bit of that passion and put it on the ice.”
Lightning 2022 third-round pick Lucas Edmonds knows what it means to get his name on the tournament trophy, having won it last year. He said he is excited for the opportunity to do it again.
“I think guys are still going to be going pretty hard and wanting to get their name on that trophy,” Edmonds said.
Braydon Coburn helps out
Former Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn was at camp Wednesday, helping out during drills.
“He’s super nice with the kids,” Cote said. “He’s open to talk with all of them.”
Coburn, whose five seasons with the Lightning included a Stanley Cup title in 2020 and a trip to the Cup final in 2015, rejoined the organization as a broadcaster and co-host of the Lightning’s Block Party podcast. But he’s also shown an affinity for coaching, holding a summer camp in his hometown of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.
Cote said Coburn will continue working with the Lightning during camp Thursday, giving the organization’s crop of young players a chance to learn someone who played 15 NHL seasons.
“We’re going to give him a little more room (Thursday) to work with the Ds,” Cote said. “We really want the guys to see what he’s like and to have him talk about what it’s like to be a Lightning player. To me, he is one of the best guys to do that, so it’s great to have him.”
