The Detroit Red Wings have signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a one-year extension worth $4 million. The deal can go up to $5.1 million based on performance bonuses. This contract carries him through the 2019-20 season.
The Detroit #RedWings today signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a one-year contract extension.
Details: https://t.co/uPuP8IWPgZ pic.twitter.com/6fk8HRrJO2
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 20, 2019
Jimmy Howard and Wings Agree on Extension
This season, Howard has played in 48 games with 46 starts for the Red Wings. He has a 19-20-5 record with a 3.05 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
Howard has spent his entire 13-year career as a Red Wing. He has put up a 240-171-68 career record in 509 career appearances with 485 career starts. He also has a 2.54 goals-against average, .914 save percentage, and 24 shutouts. Howard has a career 21-26 record in 48 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, with a 2.58 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Howard was originally a second-round draft pick (64th overall) of Detroit in the 2003 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut in 2005-06 and played his first full season in 2009-10 to earn a spot on the 2010 NHL All-Rookie Team. The Syracuse, New York native spent parts of four seasons with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, totaling a 93-74-11 record, 2.66 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and 15 shutouts in 190 games from 2005-09
What This Means for the Future
Howard and Jonathan Bernier have split time in the crease with Howard seeing 45 of the 72 starts this season. Bernier is 7-17-5 this year with a 3.24 goals-against average, .902 save percentage and one shutout. Detroit is currently in the midst of a rebuild and are planning on keeping Howard around for another year. Howard and Bernier will likely split time again next year unless one of them can steal the starting job and produce throughout the season.
Over the past few seasons, Howard has struggled behind an inconsistent defence, including this year posing a career-worst 3.05 goals against average. This is also the first season since 2008-09 that he hasn’t recorded a shutout. The Red Wings, however, have some top prospects like Filip Zadina and Taro Hirose who could see some NHL time next season.
Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. (Getty Images)
