Red Wings lock up goaltender Howard with six- year, $ 31.8- million contract
DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings and goaltender Jimmy Howard officially agreed to a new six- year contract for a reported $ 31.8- million US Tuesday.
The 29- year- old Howard, who was in the final year of a twoyear deal for $ 4.5 million, is now locked up with the Red Wings through the 2018- 19 season.
“It’s still sort of surreal,” said Howard, who is expected to be in the net on Wednesday night when the Red Wings face the Flames in Calgary. “I can’t believe it’s happening. Everyone would want to finish their career with the team that they start with. To be able to be drafted by the Wings when I was 18 and still be here and part of the organization at 29 is pretty special.”
The deal will more than double Howard’s current salary of $ 2.25 million to $ 5.3 million a season, but Detroit general manager Ken Holland still feels he’s getting a bargain.
“If you look at the contract that we signed, we’re going to wake up in a year and maybe there’s eight or 10 goaltenders that are going to make more than Jimmy Howard,” Holland said. “We got a number that Jimmy felt comfortable with and we felt comfortable with.
“This deal, for us and I think for Jimmy, gives him security, it gives us security ( and) stability. In the next year, we’re going to wake up and it’s going to be a good cap number, a fair cap number in relation to what the other people in the league are making.”
Detroit’s second- round pick in 2003 out of the University of Maine, the six- foot, 220- pound Howard spent the majority of his first four pro seasons with the club’s American Hockey League team in Grand Rapids before taking over the No. 1 job in Detroit in 2009- 10.
“Being a former goaltender myself, I believe 28 to 32- 33 are your prime years,” Holland said. “When you factor in the experience and knowledge that you need to be at your peak, prime years, he’s just coming into them.”
Howard carries a 17- 12- 6 record with a 2.31 goals- against average and .920 save percentage into Wednesday’s game in Calgary and head coach Mike Babcock said he’s a key reason the Red Wings remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. “He’s played well,” Babcock said.
“I watch Howie every day in practice and he battles and competes and he battles in games. He takes it personal, which I like. He’s worked very, very hard for a long period of time and he’s been a good Red Wing.”
In 228 career regular- season games for the Red Wings, Howard boasts a 127- 66- 25 record with a 2.39 goals- against average and .917 save percentage
“He’s one of our most valuable players,” Holland said.
“He’s got better every year. He’s developed into a top- tier NHL goaltender and is a very important part of our team moving forward.”