2019 Report Card: Brett Howden

Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty ImagesLess than 18 months ago, Brett Howden was one of four Tampa Bay Lightning prospects representing the Canadian national team at the 2018 World Junior Championships. After helping lead his country to gold in Buffalo, Howden returned to WHL Moose Jaw, where he spent his final two months as a member of the Lightning organization.

In their quest for the franchise’s second Stanley Cup, the Lightning deemed Howden expendable and included him in the package of future assets they sent to New York in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller. Howden came to training camp as a dark horse to earn time in New York’s bottom six, and managed to beat out Lias Andersson for a…