Detroit Red Wings, Goalie Jimmy Howard sign to Six-Year, $31.8 Million Deal -NHL Update
After days of rumouring, the Detroit Red Wings have made the contracting signing with their veteran goalie, Jimmy Howard, official via Twitter on Tuesday.
According to the news and various sources, the Red Wings signed Howard to a $31.8 million deal and extended his contract by another six years. Currently, Jimmy Howard was on a two-year, $4.5 million deal and the 29-year-old expected to sign on another contract
as soon as possible without further delaying it, something which Detroit also wanted.
"We're extremely pleased to have Jimmy under contract for the next six seasons," general manager Ken Holland said, according to ESPN. "He's entering the prime of his career and over the last four years has gained a tremendous amount of regular season and
postseason experience."
"He's developed into a top-tier NHL goaltender and is a very important part of our team moving forward," Holland added. "Jimmy is one of our leaders and we look forward to watching him elevate his game to the next level in a Red Wings' sweater."
Howard was signed on to the previous two-year deal at the beginning of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and instead of wasting any more time, the Detroit Red Wings are believed to have wanted to lock him down for another six years
as soon as possible.
His new six-year deal will be giving him $5.3 million every year till the 2018-2019 NHL regular season comes to an end, which is a monumental increase from the $2.25 million he is currently making.
Howard, a native of Syracuse, New York, United States, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings as the 64th overall during round-two of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and has played a total of 228 games up until now with a .917 save percentage and 2.39
goals-against average throughout his seven-year career up until this moment.
At the moment, Howard has played in 36 games this season and holds 17 wins, 12 losses and 6 overtime deciders, along with a .920 save percentage and 2.31 goals-against average.
Detroit is just barely above the playoff line at the moment and needs to keep going if they hope of making the postseason this time around.
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