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The Lightning was surprised to see left winger Isaac Howard available when it was their turn to select in the first round of the NHL draft.
They quickly took Howard, who made a strong impression last season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team.
Howard led the team with 82 points in 60 games.
“There was a certain group of players that we thought we’d be really happy if we could get this player or that player out of that group,” Assistant GM Al Murray said. “Isaac wasn’t in that group. We thought he’d be gone before that.”
– Joe Henderson, Extensive Enterprises
