The Flyers are all too familiar with a standoff involving a top prospect. They went through that with Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier reportedly wanted to sign after his freshman season, but the Flyers did not agree with that decision. He would later cut off contact with the team, refusing to meet and speak with multiple members of the organization.
The true reason Gauthier refused to sign with the Flyers was never revealed. But it didn't paint a good picture of an organization that was desperate for young, emerging talent. Aside from Matvei Michkov, Gauthier was one of the team's top prospects. Being forced to trade him put a large hole in the Flyers' prospect pool. While it's not a guarantee that Gauthier would've been able to play center at the NHL level, it was an area the team had been looking at.
Losing him, for whatever reason, hurt. And while the Flyers cannot undo what happened, they can be the team to acquire another top prospect who will not be signing with the team that drafted him.
Isaac Howard was taken in the first round of the 2022 Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is rare for the Lightning to select in the first round, as they tend to be rather aggressive with sending picks away to stay in contention. Howard was first a product of the United States National Development Program. He began his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, transferring to Michigan State after his freshman season.
It was there that he broke out in his junior season, placing fifth among all NCAA scorers with 52 points. His 26 goals were tied for third in collegiate hockey. Both numbers were tops on Michigan State. He took home the Hobey Baker Award, one of numerous awards he landed at the end of the season.
Similar to Gauthier, it was reported that Howard wanted to sign with the Lightning this season and burn the first year of his contract. Tampa ended up not doing so. Howard later announced that he was returning to Michigan for his senior season. And now, Lightning GM Julien Brisebois is not expecting to sign Howard to an entry-level deal.
Flyers could use a talent like Isaac Howard
There are certain to be numerous clubs kicking the tires on Howard. Rarely is a player taken in the first round and not signed to a deal with said team. Before Gauthier, Hayes was the last player drafted in the first round to refuse to sign with the team that drafted him. In Hayes' case, it was the Chicago Blackhawks. Jimmy Vesey and Adam Fox are some recent examples, but they were not selected in the first round.
The Flyers, while they are not ready to contend, are a young team that is building a roster that will be able to compete soon. That means that roster spots are open for the taking. That alone is a factor that could be used in a negotiation. If Tampa wasn't able to fit Howard in due to cap space or not having a roster spot available, coming to a team that does would be an upgrade.
It might help that Howard's former teammate is a current Flyers' prospect. Karsen Dorwart signed with Philadelphia after Michigan's season was over and appeared in five games. Having seen the organization firsthand, Dorwart could offer personal insight.
We can easily look at the Gauthier trade as an example of what it might take to acquire Howard's rights. In return for Gauthier, the Flyers received Jamie Drysdale. He was a young defenseman who suffered numerous injuries and wasn't developing as the Ducks hoped. Anaheim also sent a second-round pick.
The Flyers are loaded with draft capital, owning seven picks in the first two rounds this summer. It's unlikely they will make every pick. They could even flip the second-rounder that the Ducks gave them. As for a prospect they could send back, someone like Samu Tuomaala might fit the bill. He falls under the same category as Drysdale did: an oft-injured player who has struggled to consistently produce.
The Lightning would get a player who has high-level speed and a top shot, but may not be ready to make the jump to the NHL. If Howard reaches free agency, they would get a compensatory second-round pick. If the Flyers want to transfer the pick to a different season, they could upgrade it to the first round to entice the Lightning more. Tampa doesn't own one in the next three years, while Philadelphia has six.
Sometimes you have to give to get. While the Flyers may not be ready to part with Tuomaala, if they could get a more NHL-ready player, they should jump on it.