Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lightning Prospect Isaac Howard Wins 2025 Hobey Baker Award

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Jim Bay | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 8:57 PM ET

Isaac Howard, a Tampa Bay Lightning forward prospect, won the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Friday (April 11).

The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the NCAA’s top men’s ice hockey player. It is named for Hall of Famer Hobey Baker, who played college hockey at Princeton University and died shortly after World War I.

Isaac Howard is your 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner!

The @TBLightning top prospect put up 52 points in 37 games with @MSU_Hockey and led the nation in points per game! pic.twitter.com/THH8kipyNY
— NHL (@NHL) April 11, 2025

Howard, a first-round pick (No. 31) in the 2022 NHL Draft, led Michigan State and is fifth in the NCAA with 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year this season, his second at Michigan State after transferring from Minnesota Duluth.

His 26 goals matched Adam Hall (1999-00) for the most in a season by a Michigan State player since Sean Berens scored 36 in 1997-98. He also had the most points in a season since Shawn Horcoff had 65 in 1999-00.

The 21-year-old was voted the top men’s player in NCAA ice hockey ahead of two other finalists: Boston College forward Ryan Leonard, now playing for the Washington Capitals, and University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, a Minnesota Wild prospect.