The 5 Most Underrated Detroit Red Wings in 2015-2016
By John Curran
Sep 22, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) takes the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Red Wings won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
#4: Jimmy Howard
You may love him, you may hate him, but Jimmy Howard will get another chance next month at the Red Wings’ training camp to prove that he should be the man to start between the pipes for Detroit. It’s often said that two toughest jobs in Detroit are being the Lions’ quarterback and the Red Wings’ goalie, and I’m sure Jimmy Howard would definitely agree. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve both openly cursed and doubted Jimmy, but does he deserve all the negativity that comes his way?
Before suffering a groin injury during a game against the Capitals in early January, Howard was playing at an All-Star level by maintaining a 2.11 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Those numbers were good enough to make him Detroit’s only player to be selected to the NHL All-Star game. Unfortunately, Jimmy was unable to find his game after returning from the groin injury thus giving Petr Mrazek a chance to make a name for himself.
Here are some interesting numbers to think about and consider, between 2009-2015 Jimmy Howard averaged a 2.4 GAA alongside a 91.6 save percentage in 329 regular-season games. During the same time period Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens averaged a 2.41 GAA and a 91.9 save percentage in 342 games. Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers had 2.21 GAA and a 92.35 save percentage in 355 games.
Despite his lack of confidence sometimes, Jimmy Howard can play like an elite NHL goalie.
Next: #3: A Slovakian YouTube Sensation