[News] Red Wings Sign Howard to 6-year, $31.8 Million Extension

[Nehkara]

Red Wings Sign G Howard To Six-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings announced on Tuesday that they have signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a six-year contract.

"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."

CapGeek says the AAV is $5.3 million, making the total value of the contract $31.8 million. This season Howard made $2.25 million.

Discuss.

[blankall]

[ricardodw]

Okay ... so Detroit has to pay a premium to get players to play in the Murder/Crime Capitol.

[Locke]

Wow, that looks like a terrible contract. For Jimmy Howard? Really? He must know where the bodies are buried....

[Erick Estrada]

He's a pretty good goaltender but this contract seems a little on the long side. I personally would have offered less over 5 years or $5 million/season over four years but I'm not a GM. I have to wonder who the Wings thought they would be bidding against had he hit free agency? Certainly not the Flames who have money to spend but not that much of a need to overpay for a good but maybe not elite goaltender, maybe the Leafs or Oilers? I just don't see any teams offering that money to Howard.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I had a real sense of deja vu when I read this. Wasn't another goalie extended recently, with the term and dollars seemingly too high?

EDIT: Oh, it was a thread discussing the same deal that was being finalized.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=126893

[Ashasx]

A lot of money for an average (at best) starting goaltender.

[Split98]

Lol, WHAT?!

After a year where their defence and goaltending may cost them the playoffs? Where Gustavsson was seriously discussed as Detroit's starter?

GL Detroit. You once proud franchise.

[puckluck2]

Terrible contract. About $2 million too much and 3 years too long.

[dobbles]

while its certainly not the best deal, howard has been the best player on the roster this year. the number of odd man rushes this team gives up a game is embarrassing. even the last year or two with lidstrom, the team was still below average in their defensive coverage. this year, with many young and inexperienced defensemen in front of him, howard has kept the wings in games. unfortunately, traditional stats do howard little justice as there legitimately is a difference in the scoring chances he faces compared to what the wings used to give up in their heyday of great system hockey with mediocre goalies.

and split, there was never a time where gustavsson was even considered the number 1 goalie in detroit.

regardless of all that, it still makes me nervous signing a goalie to a long term deal. you can count on your hand the number of legit top end goalies that can stay at that level for more than a few seasons.

[StrykerSteve]

That's big money for a guy like Jimmy Howard. Seems like an overpayment, but these days, maybe it's the going rate for a starter.

[boogerz]

They are going to regret this in a few years. Six years is a loooooooonnnnggg time

[dying4acup]

Irony: he's making the same $, year for year, as lub go for the next 6yrs. Who would u rather have.

[nickk382]

I don't understand how he can re-sign when he has to drive through the gates of hell and then through hell itself just to get into the stadium.

[FAN]

Not a fan of this contract. Howard's a good goaltender for sure, but he's certainly not amongst the elite and doesn't have that kind of upside. He can, however, start a lot of games and he fills a need for the Red Wings.