Howard becoming like a Ryan Miller?

[rick zombo 3,739]

Lets see him for a little longer than 3/4 of the year before we start making predictions, shall we?

He could be the next Dan Ellis or Steve Mason for all we know.

Despite his amazing season last year, the Blue Jackets rushed Mason. Something the Wings were careful not to do with Howard.

Ellis' numbers this year are fairly respectable.

The advantage Howard has over these two guys is that he plays for a team with better management.

But yeah, here's hoping he keeps it up.

[chrisdetroit 189]

While mindfly is often a negative nancy, I don't see how this was anything vintage mindfly or out of line or anything. Howard still leaves out juicy rebounds every now and then (while others do as well).

My point is that the guy has the 2nd best save % in the entire league and Mindfly still has negative comments. I am ok if Howard continues to play exactly the same way as he is now. Yes he does sometimes leave out juicy rebounds, otherwise he might be up for the Vezina trophy

[chrisdetroit 189]

The thing is most of the comments earlier in the year were for him to be waived. Yes, there have been the Jim Carey and Andrew Raycroft's. Steve Mason shows that it is hard to repeat, but it just shows that the Red Wings know what they are doing.

And that many LGW posters do not....

[Guest mindfly]

My point is that the guy has the 2nd best save % in the entire league and Mindfly still has negative comments. I am ok if Howard continues to play exactly the same way as he is now. Yes he does sometimes leave out juicy rebounds, otherwise he might be up for the Vezina trophy

Thank the team in front of him who clear all his rebounds and bail him out on a daily basis

[gcom007 1,465]

And that many LGW posters do not....

Did it really sound like the Red Wings were so convinced? What did they ever say in the press to suggest that they thought he was even capable of being a backup? They were concerned and unconvinced heading into the regular season. That's a fact. I think Babcock and Holland would both say they are surprised he is doing as well as they were just hoping to get a guy who could be a descent backup the way he played in GR and even through training camp. Look it up if you don't remember.

[gcom007 1,465]

My point is that the guy has the 2nd best save % in the entire league and Mindfly still has negative comments. I am ok if Howard continues to play exactly the same way as he is now. Yes he does sometimes leave out juicy rebounds, otherwise he might be up for the Vezina trophy

He certainly tends to be pessimistic and on the negative side, but that doesn't necessarily make him totally wrong either. I think he makes the issues out to be a bit more egregious than they really are, but it doesn't negate the fact that there are some rather glaring issues that he could stand to improve on. When he's in his rookie year, it's quite reasonable to think, suggest and hope that he ends up working them out in order to have continued success.

[gcom007 1,465]

Thank the team in front of him who clear all his rebounds and bail him out on a daily basis

This is very true, but give the guy credit for knowing how to at least stop the puck. He has been outstanding at that. Remember L.A.? That game was outrageous because he was as awful as he was amazing. He gave up a million rebounds that accounted for the high shot total, but the guy made 50 amazing stops to counter them all. It was really a fascinating and outrageous game on so many levels in that sense because his strengths and weaknesses were on display front and center.

But as a rookie, you've got to be happy about how well he's played and the strengths he's shown. I agree, he has things to work on, and he must work on them if he wants to have long-term success, but hey, it's a good situation right now and you've got to think the Wings will do what they have to encourage him to work on some of the fundamentals in the off-season. If he does that, the guy's got a lot of potential to be a force.

[syntax 359]

My point is that the guy has the 4th 2nd best save % in the entire league and Mindfly still has negative comments. I am ok if Howard continues to play exactly the same way as he is now. Yes he does sometimes leave out juicy rebounds, otherwise he might be up for the Vezina trophy

Fixed.

Howard is fine. Other posters are correct....slight adjustment in positioning, better rebound control and puck handling and he'll be in good shape.

He needs to look out for the 'sophomore slump' next year though....a lot of good rookie goalies have TERRIBLE second seasons.

[AARedWingFan 13]

I hope so ! Ryan Miller is a stud !

This. I hope he ends up like Miller, and not like Steve Mason in year #2

[Swayze 81]

People have been comparing the two for the last few years...glad it's coming true.

[Osgood the Best 2]

I think he was bored in GR. This is the Howard I remember at Maine.

Glad the Wings never gave up on him like 80+% of the fans did in recent years!!

I watched him at a few games here against the Quad City Flames (before Calgary pulled them) and I also thought he seemed way too bored. He played well in GR, but I don't think the game was fast enough for him, imo.

[VM1138 1,921]

I'm all for the support of Howard, I myself have been singing his praises. But let's not forget an important fact:

Howard is a goalie.

Every single year there are hot young goalies who everyone predicts will be the next great goalie. And then they disappaer and at best end up mediocre.

So let's enjoy Howard's play while it lasts, and hope it always does, but let's not get our hopes up.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Howard did go threw the same training process that Miller did. Let's all hope he turn out better then Miller or at worst be as good as him hehehe.

[hatsyuk 0]

Despite his amazing season last year, the Blue Jackets rushed Mason. Something the Wings were careful not to do with Howard.

Ellis' numbers this year are fairly respectable.

The advantage Howard has over these two guys is that he plays for a team with better management.

But yeah, here's hoping he keeps it up.

Dan Ellis is a perfect goaltender to compare Howard to, unlike Miller. Their rookie seasons are almost identical, except Ellis had 6 shutouts while Howard has managed 1. Both guys are strong on perimeter shots, but not exactly stars on second chances.

Look every1, Ryan Miller stops 81.6% of rebounds.....Jimmy Howard stops 69.4%. That is technique, and athleticism. These are real stats, btw....I'm not bs'ing you. There is no comparison to Ryan Miller. Howard is 6'0" 218, Miller 6'2" 175....figure it out. Just a shame we took Jari Tolsa while Miller was still available in the '99 draft. Atleast we made up for it with Z in round 7, otherwise it would be the worst draft ever.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Did it really sound like the Red Wings were so convinced? What did they ever say in the press to suggest that they thought he was even capable of being a backup? They were concerned and unconvinced heading into the regular season. That's a fact. I think Babcock and Holland would both say they are surprised he is doing as well as they were just hoping to get a guy who could be a descent backup the way he played in GR and even through training camp. Look it up if you don't remember.

And lots of LGW posters didn't even want to give him a chance. They wanted to re-sign Conklin, trade Howard for a bag of pucks, etc. The Wings brass decided to give him a chance to be at least a back-up. Yes, it so far has turned out better than they hoped but at least they were willing to take a chance.

Many LGW posters were not.

Look it up if you don't remember.

[ltgator333 3]

I don't know that Howard is any Ryan Miller, but anything's possible. I'm thinking that Jimmy's potential is pretty up there, it's just a question of whether or not he develops that far or not. He's got some things going for him that'll help for sure, jmo- he's got the (speed, hand-eye, strength) physical ability and he's not a small guy which are natural advantages to go along with the fact that for a rookie goalie he seems to be good at predicting the game. Then of course he plays for a good team and a good organization.

His flaws, the positioning and rebound control, are like buying a car that needs tires and a paint job- fixable. I have hope for him because I like his attitude, and he just seems like a very focused, intense character. That and the organization and players he plays for/with. It seems like a vast majority of players that come here with a will to succeed do just that.