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JIMMY HOWARD
Jimmy Howard
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Vitals: 6'1'' / 208 lbs.
Birthdate: March 26, 1984
Hometown: Ogdensburg, New York
Acquired: Detroit's first choice (64th overall) in the 2003 draft
CSS Ranking: 2nd North American Goaltender (2003)
Contract: 2011
RWC Says: No. 1 goaltender

STORIES

PHOTOS
                         

AWARDS
  • 2001-02 Dave Peterson Award (junior goaltender of the year)
  • 2002-03 Hockey East Goaltender of the Month (January)
  • 2002-03 Hockey East Rookie of the Month (January)
  • 2002-02 Hockey East Rookie of the Year Award Winner
  • 2002-03 Hockey East All-Rookie Team
  • 2003-04 Hockey East Co-Goaltender of the Month (October)
  • 2003-04 Hockey East Goaltender of the Month (February)
  • 2003-04 Hockey East Goaltender of the Month (March)
  • 2003-04 University of Maine Coca-Cola Three Star Award
  • 2003-04 NCAA top goals-against average (1.19, 0.57 ahead of Matti Kaltiainen at 1.76)
  • 2003-04 NCAA top save percentage (.956)
  • 2003-04 Set NCAA record for goal-against average (1.19)
  • 2003-04 Set NCAA record for save percentage (.956)
  • 2003-04 Hockey East First-Team All-Star
  • 2003-04 NCAA East Second-Team All-American
  • 2003-04 Hockey East Championship Tournament MVP
  • 2004-05 University of Maine MVP
  • 2004-05 Hockey East Goaltender of the Month (January)
  • 2004-05 Hockey East Goaltender of the Month (March)
  • 2004-05 Hockey East all-conference honorable mention
  • 2005-06 AHL Goaltender of the Month (March)
  • 2005-06 AHL PlanetUSA All-Star Team
  • 2005-06 AHL All-Rookie Team
  • 2006-07 The Hockey News Future Watch (NHL's 71st-best prospect)
  • 2007-08 AHL Goaltender of the Month (December)
  • 2007-08 AHL PlanetUSA All-Star Team
  • 2007-08 The Hockey News Future Watch (NHL's 55th-best prospect)
  • 2007-08 Grand Rapids Griffins Man of the Year
  • 2008-09 Grand Rapids Griffins Man of the Year

HISTORY
2001-02:
  • Spent season with U.S. National Development Program (26 GP, 1.89 GAA and .933 SPCT).
  • Set US national program record with .933 save percentage.
  • Won gold for Team USA at 2002 under-18 world championship (6 GP, 1.33 GAA, .954 SPCT).
  • Rated 19th among North American goalies by Central Scouting at midterm, but didn't opt into draft.
2002-03:
  • Maine business major enjoyed school record 187:43 shutout string early in year.
  • Split time with Frank Doyle and made impact as 18-year-old, rare at the NCAA level.
  • Posted 12-1 record, 1.52 GAA and .947 SPCT over first half.
  • Difficult second half to finish with 2.45 GAA and .916 SPCT in 21 starts (14-6-0).
  • Became first Black Bear to win Hockey East's Rookie of the Year award since Paul Kariya.
  • One of 12 finalists for the Walter Brown award (best American-born college player in New England).
  • Backed up Robert Goepfert at WJC (79 minutes action, 6.05 GAA, .800 SPCT).
  • Bad game against Russia at WJC (5-1 loss) seemed to rattle Howard for rest of season.
  • Drafted in the second round (64th overall) by Detroit.
2003-04:
  • Split time with senior Frank Doyle at Maine and earned nomination for Walter Brown award.
  • Missed more than a month with MCL strain after slipping on puck at early-December practice.
  • Named to Team USA for WJC, but knee injury forced him to miss gold medal-winning experience.
  • Won starting job from Doyle with five shutouts (six total) in final 14 games of season.
  • Made 63 saves in 2-1 triple-overtime win over Massachusetts in Hockey East championship.
  • Pulled after allowing four goals on 33 shots in two periods against Harvard at the Frozen Four.
  • Bounced back but fell in NCAA championship game to Denver 1-0 despite 19 saves.
2004-05:
  • Battled mono early in year at Maine, posting 2.27 GAA and .901 SPCT in 16 first-half starts.
  • After Christmas, posted 1.58 GAA and .940 SPCT in 20 starts including playoffs.
  • Made 36 saves in 2-1 double-overtime loss to Boston College in Hockey East semifinals.
  • Made 37 saves in 1-0 overtime loss to Minnesota in opening round of NCAA tournament.
  • Finished seventh in country with 1.92 GAA and .924 save percentage, and second with six shutouts.
  • Signed three-year contract with the Red Wings in the off-season.
2005-06:
  • Started season in NHL with injuries to Chris Osgood and Manny Legace (four starts, 2.99 GAA).
  • Demoted to Grand Rapids, splitting time with veteran Joey MacDonald.
  • Took over No. 1 job in March after Joey MacDonald suffered season-ending back injury.
  • Posted 12-game winning streak in March and won 15 of 16 games during remarkable stretch.
  • Finished fourth in AHL in wins (27) and ninth in goals-against avarage (2.58).
  • Briefly called up to Detroit during NHL playoffs after injury to Chris Osgood, serving as backup.
  • Numbers dipped in AHL playoffs (3.46 GAA, .885 SPCT).
  • Pulled after allowing four goals on 23 shots in Game 7 of AHL quarterfinals, an eventual win.
  • Stopped 86 of 96 shots as Grand Rapids lost 4-0 in AHL semifinals to Milwaukee.
  • Rated NHL's 47th-best prospect in The Hockey News Future Watch.
2006-07:
  • Struggled in first half of season (11-12-1, 3.00 GAA, .899 SPCT) up until end of December.
  • Missed five weeks with ankle injury in January and early February.
  • Returned and played strong hockey (9-9-2, 2.46 GAA, .921 SPCT) to help Griffins make playoffs.
  • Posted four shutouts in nine starts from Dec. 31 to March 9.
  • Grand Rapids went 37-32-6-5, grabbing Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
  • Overall numbers (2.70 GAA, .911 SPCT) compared to rookie totals, despite on much weaker team.
  • Compiled a franchise record six shutouts (tied for second in AHL).
  • Shootout success rate of 69 percent (27 saves on 39 shots) put him seventh in AHL.
  • Started every minute in first-round, seven-game playoff loss to Manitoba (1.93 GAA, .927 SPCT).
2007-08:
  • Came to Red Wings' training camp more than 10 pounds lighter and in the best shape of his career.
  • Appeared in five NHL pre-season games before assignment to Grand Rapids (AHL).
  • Endured slow start but was AHL's goaltender of the month in December (1.72 GAA, .939 SPCT).
  • Earned four-game NHL call-up in February (2.13 GAA, .926 SPCT) after playing in AHL All-Star Game.
  • Struggled down stretch after returning to Grand Rapids, winning just four of his final 15 starts.
  • Finished with 21-28-0-2 record, two shutouts, 2.83 GAA and .907 SPCT.
  • Didn't crack top 20 in any AHL statistical category, but non-playoff team (31-41-2-6) didn't help.
  • Called up to Detroit to serve as Black Ace (spare who doesn't play) during NHL playoffs.
2008-09:
  • Led Red Wings in goals-against average (1.20) and save percentage (.947) in NHL pre-season.
  • Suffered broken fingertip in pre-season and missed more than a week.
  • Lost out to Ty Conklin for backup job to Chris Osgood and was sent to Grand Rapids (AHL).
  • Went 21-18-4 in Grand Rapids while splitting regular-season time with Daniel Larsson.
  • Finished 19th in AHL in GAA (2.54), T13th in Sv% (.916), T18th in wins (21) and T7th in shutouts (4).
  • Called up to Detroit for one game, allowing four goals on 28 shots in a loss to Minnesota.
  • Started every playoff game as Grand Rapids lost in AHL second round (4-6, 2.41 GAA, .900 Sv%).
  • Called up to Detroit to serve as third-string goaltender for NHL playoff run.

SCOUT COMMENTS
"He keeps us in every game. He's focused, he's very confident and his physical regime has been a plus in terms of his quickness. At this stage, it appears he is (ready for the NHL). He rarely gives (up a bad goal now). That's just part of a goalie's development. When they're beating him, they're beating him with a good goal. He looks just about ready. If he finishes (strong), he will be a factor next year in Detroit." — Grand Rapids Griffins general manager Bob McNamara (January 2008) ... "If Jimmy comes in and he's obviously the best guy (for the backup job, up against Ty Conklin), then we’re going to have to re-evaluate. Jimmy is going to lose any tie. I’ve explained that to Jimmy. Our plan is that he is going to be on our team in '09-10 for sure." — Red Wings general manager Ken Holland (September 2008, Detroit Free Press).

STRENGTHS
Hybrid goalie whose style is cross between stand-up and butterfly ... Mixes various styles and uses smarts to go down or stay on feet when appropriate ... Big-save goaltender who has a history of performing in clutch situations ... Excellent size, poise and fundamentals ... Makes effortless saves and puck just seems to hit him ... Doesn't give up any rebounds and sucks everything in ... Can look unbeatable at times because of smarts, positioning and angle play ... Calm, composed in goal ... CBC analyst Kelly Hrudey compares Howard to Tim Thomas.

WEAKNESSES
Still can't shake inconsistency, and needs to figure out a way to level out the highs and lows if he expects to be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL ... Needs to keep his confidence and focus when things aren't going well ... Struggles with rebounds and high shots when off his game.

PROJECTION
It's now or never for Howard after four years in the AHL. He is no longer waiver exempt, and Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has already said he will be be Chris Osgood's backup in 2009-10. Howard was never able to put together a dominating AHL season, but he is a quality goaltender who has paid his dues in the minors and is ready to get his NHL shot.

STATISTICS
  REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS
SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP W-L-T SO GAA SPCT GP W-L SO GAA SPCT
2001-02 U.S. NTDP 26 16-8-1 4 1.89 .933 -- -- -- -- --
  U.S. W-U18 6 5-1-0 -- 1.33 .954 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Maine NCAA 21 14-6-0 3 2.45 .916 -- -- -- -- --
  U.S. W-U20 3 0-1-0 -- 6.05 .800 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Maine NCAA 23 14-4-3 6 1.19 .956 -- -- -- -- --
2004-05 Maine NCAA 36 19-13-7 6 1.92 .924 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Grand Rapids AHL 38 27-6-2 2 2.58 .910 13 5-7 0 3.46 .885
  Detroit NHL 4 1-2-0 0 2.99 .904 -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Grand Rapids AHL 49 21-21-3 6 2.70 .911 7 3-4 0 1.93 .927
2007-08 Grand Rapids AHL 54 21-28-2 2 2.83 .907 -- -- -- -- --
  Detroit NHL 4 0-2-0 0 2.13 .926 -- -- -- -- --
2008-09 Grand Rapids AHL 45 21-18-4 4 2.54 .916 10 4-6 0 2.41 .900
  Detroit NHL 1 0-1-0 0 4.10 .857 -- -- -- -- --

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The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
01 F Tomas Tatar » Grand Rapids (AHL)
02 D Jakub Kindl » Grand Rapids (AHL)
03 D Brendan Smith » Wisconsin (NCAA)
04 G Thomas McCollum » Grand Rapids (AHL)
05 F Gustav Nyquist » Maine (NCAA)
06 F Landon Ferraro » Red Deer (WHL)
07 F Jan Mursak » Grand Rapids (AHL)
08 F Cory Emmerton » Grand Rapids (AHL)
09 F Joakim Andersson » Frolunda (SEL)
10 F Mattias Ritola » Grand Rapids (AHL)
» COMPLETE RANKING »