After the Howard and McKenna news, what is next for Michigan State Hockey?
Before moving further into the discussion of the week so far in Michigan State hockey, I feel it is necessary to set the table, and calm nerves. Do not fall victim to the constant sharing of news and tidbits, and swings in emotion to feel doom about the expectations for MSU hockey next season. Michigan State Hockey is still in a good spot for next season
Despite the news we will delve into below, the Spartans still have 13 NHL draft picks (with opportunity for up to two more) ready to roll next season. They have eight players returning who have been important pieces in two straight Big Ten double championships (regular season and playoffs) and three more players returning who played big minutes in their first season in East Lansing last year. Among those with two years on campus and a NHL logo next to his name on the line chart is rising Junior Trey Augustine, who enters the season as the unquestioned top goaltender in NCAA Hockey with the pro departure of Jacob Fowler.
The Spartans (depending on roster additions to come) may not enter the season as the unquestioned favorite to win the national title as it felt possible a few days ago, however do not lose composure and hang your head, as this should still be a top-5 team entering the season.
In addition to that, the Spartans have entered the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed the last two seasons and have seen that lead to not making a Frozen Four on either occasion; all that matters to winning the national title is making the tournament and putting together four wins, and this team will absolutely still have all the parts to expect to easily make the tournament, and be dangerous when doing so.
With that out of the way, let’s get into the difficult 48 hours to start this week and where MSU can go from here.
Second Place in the Gavin McKenna Sweepstakes
Word began breaking out Monday morning – from former North Dakota hockey player Jordan Schmaltz first and then others more trusted as well – that Gavin McKenna had informed Penn State and Michigan State of his decision to commit to Penn State. The expected 2026 top pick for the NHL Draft had visited both schools in the week prior, and, after months of speculation that the Nittany Lions would secure his commitment with a substantial NIL package, McKenna confirmed that commitment Tuesday night on Sportscenter publicly pledging to the Nittany Lions.
The Spartans reportedly offered a NIL package of $200-300k, per Mike McMahon, while Penn State offered $700k. The fact that the Spartans got a visit with that disparity, and that Penn State had to offer so far above the Spartans to secure a commitment should speak volumes.
While we can all say (with green goggles included, yes) that the development, facilities, NHL pedigree and national title contention at Michigan State – while being paid well before entering the NHL for a long career – should outweigh a larger payday for a year, that speaks without knowledge of the McKenna family situation.
Penn State also is coming off a surprise Frozen Four appearance, has a very talented roster heading into next season, is worthy of the same goals as the Spartans, and has a mega donor in Buffalo Sabres’ owner Terry Pegula to back the program. They had a heck of a lot to offer and the Spartans were in it until the end – but it is hard to win a recruitment chasing the leader the whole time. Games against the Nittany Lions next season should be must watch occasions for all Spartan fans.
Isaac Howard signs entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers after being traded
After the official announcement of McKenna committing on Tuesday evening, later Tuesday night news of a trade of Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Edmonton Oilers became public.
Minutes after the trade was announced, the Oilers announced that Howard had signed his NHL contract, meaning he will not be returning to the Spartans next season, nor will he be seeking a possible repeat as Hobey Baker champion.
Howard had a falling out with the Lightning last spring when they could not reach a deal after the Spartans’ season ended, prompting Howard to say he would not sign with the Lightning and would instead seek to become a free agent in the summer of 2026. The Lightning would have received a second round draft pick as compensation, were that to happen, but sought trading Howard as well to get a better return.
It was encouraging to Spartans fans to see Howard not be traded at the NHL Draft at the end of June, but there was a lot of smoke at the draft that the Oilers and Lightning were close to a deal, and that deal was closed Tuesday.
In my opinion it was always more likely that Howard would be traded and in the NHL next season, but as the calendar turned to July, I do admit I started to get a bit optimistic myself that just maybe we would get another season of Howard in East Lansing.
Edmonton is a tremendous landing spot for Howard, a chance to be an impact player in the NHL next season, on a talented roster that has gone to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances without a series win, but needs more depth in their forward corps and will plug Howard in right away.
Howard has done amazing things for the Spartan hockey program, legitimizing Adam Nightingale when he transferred to MSU after Nightingale’s first season without even taking a visit, playing excellent for two seasons, showing development both seasons from where the prior season ended, adding a third Hobey Baker trophy to the case at Munn Arena. In addition, Howard has been a personable guy who speaks his mind all the time, singing the praises of Michigan State.
This is a move that stings for next season, but will pay big dividends for the program long term, as a decade of lagging talent has the Spartans dangerously low in alumni playing in the NHL. With Howard, Joey Larson, Karsen Dorwart, and more coming soon, the Spartans can use their NHL success to continue to recruit at a premium level.
So, what now?
The Spartans entered the week with 25 players rostered, with a chance to earn the commitment of player No. 26 and be set for next season, and now sit with 24 players on the roster and two forward spots to be filled.
Information is locked down, and not easily obtained, but I can share that the staff is not just now adjusting to their new situation. The staff was aware that a Howard trade was likely, it was a slow developing process, and they possibly knew as far back as the NHL Draft that Howard was on the move.
Despite that fact, they still thought he was a program guy so much so that they had Isaac host Gavin McKenna on his visit to East Lansing, something also made amazing by Howard’s own evolving situation with his hockey career.
Porter Martone, the sixth overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, is a player the Spartans hosted on campus previously this year. Martone was at the Flyers Development Camp last week with current Spartan and fellow recent Flyers draft pick Shane Vansaghi, and Karsen Dorwart.
Reports have stated Martone prefers to be in the NHL next season, but the Flyers may not deem him ready for 82 games. He can play 10 games in the NHL and then report back to an OHL team, but it is rumored the Flyers would rather Martone play NCAA over another year of junior hockey. With the Flyers clearly liking the development of Nightingale’s players at MSU, it makes a ton of sense they would support a move to East Lansing for a year or two of development, also while saving themselves two years of Martone being on an entry level contract to develop.
I believe most likely the Spartans will add two players who are not currently committed for next season, from either the CHL – like Martone – or possibly a USHL player who is college eligible but uncommitted.
The USHL path is much less likely as many more of their players are committed due to the previous NCAA rules. It is also possible the Spartans could add a player such as Max Heise, who has been committed to the Spartans since March of 2023. Heise is a 2006 born player who likely has the academics to begin college in the fall, but also recently signed with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, ahead of being drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Signing in Prince Albert likely tips off that Heise would not be expected in East Lansing, and with the staff having been aware of Howard being traded to Edmonton in advance, I doubt Heise is added for next season, but he is the sole forward that makes sense of their currently committed crop.
Michigan State Hockey is still in a good spot for next season. There is a lot more news to come and more MSU hockey coverage coming your way here at Spartans Illustrated; be sure to stay active on the site as I will be back soon.