The Chicago Blackhawks should inquire about one of Tampa's top prospects, Isaac Howard

There are only a few games left in the NHL regular season, and those outside the playoff picture are entering into offseason mode as they survey the market for players who could be valuable additions to their organization.

One player who is sure to garner interest around the league is the Tampa Bay Lightning's top prospect and Hobey Baker finalist Isaac Howard.

Recent reports confirmed that Isaac Howard will be returning to Michigan State (NCAA) for his senior season instead of signing his entry-level contract with the Lightning, therefore prolonging his professional debut.

Those who have followed Howard may remember him stealing the show with a white suit, turtleneck, and American flag belt buckle that he wore for his draft night in 2022.

Howard has always carried himself with a swagger that reflects in his on-ice play with high-level dekes and natural stickhandling ability.

Drafted 31st overall by Tampa Bay in the 2022 draft, Howard struggled as a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth which led him to enter the transfer portal and wind up at Michigan State University. Over his two seasons playing for the Spartans, Howard has accumulated 88 points in 73 games and two consecutive Big-Ten titles.

After Howard's decision to return to Michigan State for his senior season, many have wondered if this points to the young forward not wishing to sign in Tampa and pursue his professional career elsewhere.

Even if he refuses to sign with the Lightning, Howard will undoubtedly have many teams calling, and the Blackhawks should be in the mix.

It is no secret that the Blackhawks need more talent up front to give Connor Bedard some running mates going forward, and Howard could be just who they are looking for.

His puck skills and above-average skating ability make him an intriguing prospect who brings valued experience from a successful collegiate career on one of the top clubs in the nation.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler ranks Howard as the team's second-best prospect (a subscription is required to access content linked).

Howard is not the biggest player, but he isn't necessarily small either. The Blackhawks are a team who are looking to add forwards with size to their group, but a player with the skill of Howard can bring an added offensive punch to the roster as they look to take a step closer to exiting the rebuild.

Whether the Lightning will look to trade Howard's rights is to be determined.

If he does wish to become a free agent in 2026, then it would prove needless for a team to acquire his negotiating rights. However, the Blackhawks do have some assets that could make a deal work for both sides if, hypothetically, that route is a realistic option.

When looking at Tampa's roster, they need depth on their blueline for both the present day and future as they look to keep their Stanley Cup window open.

The Blackhawks have a plethora of young defenders, all of whom have already seen an abundance of NHL games, and they are quickly beginning to experience the issue of having too many players and too few roster spots.

Along with having a surplus of defensemen, the Blackhawks also have daft capital that would prove valuable to the Lightning who have traded most of their picks in recent years. Giving Tampa a draft pick would give them more assets that they could flip for more roster depth, making this hypothetical a potential win-win for each side.