RED WINGS AND GOALTENDER JIMMY HOWARD AGREE TO TERMS ON A SIX-YEAR DEAL....YOUTUBE UNDER: CURRICH5

url=https://servimg.com/view/15986962/2505][/url]



url=https://servimg.com/view/15986962/2496][/url]



Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland announced that the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Jimmy Howard on a six-year contract. In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal will not be disclosed.



Howard, 29, was Detroit’s first selection (second round, 64th overall) in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Ogdensburg, N.Y., native is currently in his fourth full season with the Red Wings after spending the majority of his first four professional seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. In 2009-10, Howard’s rookie campaign, he posted a 37-15-10 record, 2.26 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and three shutouts in 63 games played. He became just the fourth goaltender in team history to record 30-or-more wins in his rookie season joining Terry Sawchuk, Roger Crozier and Glenn Hall. Howard also started all 12 games for Detroit in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering a 2.75 GAA, .915 SV% and one shutout. For his efforts, Howard was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team and finished as a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.



Howard’s stellar play continued during his sophomore season in 2010-11. He recorded 37 wins for the second consecutive year, tying him for third-best in the NHL. The 6-0, 220-lb. netminder followed that up by collecting 35 wins in 2011-12 and became the first goaltender in Red Wings history to win 35-or-more games in his first three full seasons with the team. He also posted a career-best 2.12 GAA and .920 SV%, along with a career-high six shutouts last season and appeared in his first career NHL All-Star game on Jan. 29, 2012, starting for Team Chara at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.



“We’re extremely pleased to have Jimmy under contract for the next six seasons,” said Holland. “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. 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 has compiled a 17-12-6 record, 2.31 GAA, .920 SV% and three shutouts in 36 games played this season. In total, he has appeared in 228 career regular season games for the Red Wings, posting a 127-66-25 record with a 2.39 GAA, .917 SV% and 14 shutouts. Howard’s career postseason numbers include a 13-15 record, 2.63 GAA, .915 SV% and one shutout. He has started all 28 playoff games for the Red Wings over the last three seasons.