Detroit Red Wings: Potential Landing Spots for Jimmy Howard
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Red Wings starting goaltender is off to a terrific start to the 2018/19 season. It just so happens he is in a “contract” year and could be a valuable trading chip for Kenny Holland and company.
Jimmy Howard is off to a tremendous start for the Detroit Red Wings, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time for Ken Holland. Howie becomes a valuable trade chip for the franchise as he is set to become a free agent at seasons’ end.
Going into the season, it seemed Gustav Nyquist and Thomas Vanek would be the coveted pending unrestricted free agents teams would salivate over. It just so happens Jimmy Howard is the hottest (rental) trade chip of the bunch at this point of the season.
Gus and Vanek both have full no-trade clauses attached to their contracts, so it is no guarantee they will agree to be moved during the season. Ken Holland needs to take his time going through all the potential landing spots for Howard’s services with the best return to the Detroit Red Wings.
Howard’s stellar play comes with perfect timing as injuries have often hampered the veteran goaltender in recent seasons. He is and has been healthy all season long to this point, and his contract which had a no-trade clause attached to it for its duration up until the final year of the deal. Ken Holland and company will have the freedom to send Jim wherever the best deal is without any type of player acceptance.
You cannot predict an injury, but with that being said, Howard isn’t getting any younger he turns 35 this march. He stayed reasonably healthy last season but the two prior seasons were both cut way short due to various injuries.
The Detroit Red Wings should consider moving Howard sooner than later to teams in need of some stability in goal. Howard during18 starts this season has posted an 8-6-3 record. His .922% save percentage is his best since his short 26 appearances from 2016/17. If you compare it to the last “full” season, it is his best since 2012/13.
He currently has a 2.70 GAA which is respectable especially in this day and age of NHL hockey. Goaltenders are facing a much more wide-open style of play and braving many more shots on a regular basis. Part of that is because of the inflated amount of power-play opportunities on a game to game basis and players are incredibly skilled.
We will take a look at the potential landing spots who could/should be interested in the services of Jimmy Howard.