Isaac Howard Is Going to Be the Red Wings Offensive Solution

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The Detroit Red Wings season is coming to a close. After a season full of ups and downs, it’s hard to think that their focus is still on the few remaining games. I mean, it’s not exactly like they are competing for the Stanley Cup, so why bother. Which, if I’m correct, means that the Red Wings front office has more than likely began transitioning themselves into an off-season and NHL draft mindset.

As we have become familar with, the draft is one of the most important times of the year. Especially for a team in the same stage as the Red Wings.

When you go through these long periods of time of being the best team in hockey, with some of the best players of all time, you will inevitably go through a drought. That drought, although very hard to endure, generally comes out great at the end. That’s where we are currently at with the Red Wings rebuild.

The Red Wings have begun getting some of their young prospects up into the NHL, but they are still young and have a long way to go before we really get to see their full potential.

When I say that, I’m referring to superstar forward, Lucas Raymond, and superstar defenseman, Moritz Seider. Now, those are the big two names, but there are still others such as: Gustav Lindstrom, Joe Veleno, and Taro Hirose.

Now, given the fact that they missed the playoffs, they are going to need to make at least one more potential superstar pick. Could Isaac Howard be that pick?

Isaac Howard. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /

Isaac Howard Could Be the Red Wings Scoring Solution

The Detroit Red Wings are almost a lock for a top 10 pick in the 2022 NHL entry draft. If they do, that would be the Red Wings sixth consecutive top 10 pick. Which, given the Red Wings current state, is good- but it isn’t. I know that doesn’t make sense, but I’m sure you understand what I mean.

Anyways, the only way to truly improve your organization, and to turn things around, is to draft players that can make an impact on your team. This year, if the Red Wings get pick 9, they need to find someone that can truly be an impact player on the offensive side of it all.

There are a lot of names that fit that category, but there is one name that have recently been drawing a lot of attention: Isaac Howard.

Professional NHL Draft Scout Thoughts

Now, I know that in my past article regarding Shane Wright, I did the breakdown. However, I also know that I’m not a published NHL draft scout which elimates my thoughts to nothing more than just meaningless words. Therefore, I took the time to find some professional scouts reports on Isaac Howard. Here is what a couple people had to say.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic:

“Howard is a player defined by his skill level. His stick skills are among the best in the draft. He can make quick and creative dekes consistently. He’s known as a goal-scorer, but he can make creative passes and make difficult plays in small areas. Howard is a good enough skater for the NHL, but for a 5-foot-10 guy you’d like to see a little more burst. His goal-scoring is more a product of his skill and willingness to attack the middle than an elite shot. He projects as a top-nine winger.” – Corey Pronman of The Athletic

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic:

“Howard’s capable of doing things with the puck on his stick and navigating through holes and traffic like few others in this class. He has been the offensive catalyst for the 2004 age group at the program these last two years (after leading them in scoring last season, he’s challenging for the team lead again this season while leading the group in shots on goal by a wide margin). When he’s in attack mode taking pucks from a standstill into the middle of the ice to create looks, he’s a ton of fun to watch and forces opposing players to reach in on him (which draws a lot of penalties). He’s creative. He tries things (occasionally at the offensive zone blue line that he shouldn’t but gets away with) and usually executes. But he’s also a heady player off the puck, hiding in coverage off of it to score his fair share of tap-in goals. I’m a big believer in Howard. He’s a lethal offensive-zone player who gets to the home-plate area and has some of the better hands and instincts in the draft.” – Scott Wheeler of The Athletic

Speed

Howard’s speed is something that I actually find pretty impressive. Now, I will say that his top speed isn’t as high quality as I would’ve liked to have seen. However, the acceleation and burst that I see from him is pretty high quality.

I know that Corey Pronman said above that the speed part of his game is lacking, but I disagree with that statement. He looks incredibly explosive in transition and I feel like he could be a huge threat in breakaways.

Puck Skills

Isaac Howard is one of the more elite puck handlers in the draft. Which, normally I would feel is a bit of an exaggeration for a guy who’s projected a little outside the top 10- but it’s not at all. Howard is an unbelievable puck handler with his ability to move inside or outside with the puck, handle the puck at top speeds and be able to make moves to deke defenseman in the O-Zone.

If the Red Wings are able to match up a player like Jakub Vrana and Isaac Howard, the Red Wings second-line would be dominant. Vrana has the shot that can be a great compliment to Howard’s skill set.

Shot

Isaac Howard’s shot is something that I feel wasn’t talked about enough throughout this year’s draft process. He has recently become a top tier goal scorer, and it’s really started to create some buzz around him. Particullarly from Scott Wheeler.

He has become pretty vocal on twitter regarding Howard’s offensive talent and that has led to some people talking about him as a top 7-10 pick in this years draft. Which, is what brings me to the point of the article. He would be a terrific fit with the Red Wings given his skill set.

Isaac Howard. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images) /

How Would Isaac Howard Fit In With the Red Wings?

Isaac Howard, if his draft stock continues to rise, could be right in the wheelhouse for the Red Wings this year. Of course, that is dependent on their position post-lottery. Nonetheless, the Red Wings should have Isaac Howard on their draft boards and that much needs to be set in stone.

Isaac Howard, if he lands with the Red Wings, projects to be apart of their second-line. If you ask me, that would be my guess. Furthermore, this is why I feel he would end up apart of the Red Wings second-line.

The Detroit Red Wings first-line is going to be set for a period of time. Between Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond- that line is set until proven to be uneffective. So, with that being said, the first line will remain how it is. However, the second, third and fourth lines are still up for grabs.

Now, when I say the second-line, that may not be the best way to word it. When I say second-line, I’m reffering to being the counterpart to Jakub Vrana. The person centering that line I’d assume would be Joe Veleno. However, that part is still up for grabs. They could even sign a center if they wanted.

Now, getting back to why I think I’d move Filip Zadina out of the line to put Isaac Howard in is more based upon how well they could potentially play off each other.

Jakub Vrana is one of the best shooters on this team. I mean, he truly could eventually be a 30 goal scorer- consistently. Which, they do have in Dylan Larkin and I feel Raymond coule be one as well. However, having a depth piece like Vrana on the second line who could score 30+ goals per season is great.

Vrana could be a 30 goal scorer, and maybe even 40. I mean, when I watch Vrana play- I see a player like Vladimir Tarasenko.

Tarasenko, although never really a elite point scorer, was a great goal scorer. He could always be counted on for 30 goals. That’s what I expect out of Vrana. However, on the other hand, I expect Howard to be a guy who could score 20 goals, but have 40-50 assists per season.

Related Story. How Would Shane Wright Fit in With the Red Wings?. light

That could be a bit of an exaggeration given he’s never quite played in a collegiate level game, but his talent shows on film. I mean, it’s easy to find him on tape. If he continues to grow as a player- I would love to see how he would do in Red.

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