Howard becoming like a Ryan Miller?

[Pavel Hossyukstrom 2]

Hey does anyone see Howard becoming like Ryan Miller in a few years at this time? Just wondering

[redwingfan19 293]

possibly. Although he probably wont win 30 games this year, he is putting up better GAA and save percentage than miller if you compare their rookie seasons. Also both are similar in the fact they both had to pay their dues in the AHL for a few years before finally getting a chance. It's too early to tell yet but Jimmy Howard could become a miller type goalie in the near future.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

we should try out drew in net for a few games

[rage 24]

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!!

[puckbags 863]

Hey does anyone see Howard becoming like Ryan Miller in a few years at this time? Just wondering

I hope so ! Ryan Miller is a stud !

[Guest mindfly]

Gotta control the rebounds and be able to use the stick and pass the puck first. Basic stuff.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

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.

[CenterIce 83]

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!!

My thoughts exactly. I have liked Howard since watching him during Frozen Four games, while he was at Maine. I was happy to see when the Wings drafted him. They saw him by chance, too. They were watching some of Maine's games because they had drafted Todd Jackson. He never worked out, but Howard has, so far.

[thedisappearer 291]

Gotta control the rebounds and be able to use the stick and pass the puck first. Basic stuff.

This used to be my complaint, but I've seen marked improvement in this over the last month. He's not leaving rebounds in the slot anymore.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Gotta control the rebounds and be able to use the stick and pass the puck first. Basic stuff.

Yea, right now he sucks. Obviously he needs to work on the basics.

hahahahahahah

Don't you ever have any positive comments.

[chrisdetroit 189]

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.

My thoughts exaclty. There have been plenty of rookie goaltenders who have had unbelievable first years and then tanked..

I hope Howard isn't one of those.

[cjm502 165]

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.

We have seen enough to know he has awesome potential. Now all we can do is be optimistic and hope he keeps it up.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Yea, right now he sucks. Obviously he needs to work on the basics.

hahahahahahah

Don't you ever have any positive comments.

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).

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

double post, my bad

Edited January 23, 2010 by SouthernWingsFan

[Guest mindfly]

Then again the rebounds isn't his worst part it's the stickhandling, when the puck comes to him he just bats it away to the corner with one hand instead of taking it two-hands and pass it with good accuracy

Edited January 23, 2010 by mindfly

[GoOzzieGo 22]

Ozzie gives up 3 goals to the lowly Washington Capitals......and we're calling for his head. Jimmy gives up 3 goals to the high octane Minnesota scoring machine.....and we're comparing him to Miller.

Interesting.

[Guest mindfly]

Ozzie gives up 3 goals to the lowly Washington Capitals......and we're calling for his head. Jimmy gives up 3 goals to the high octane Minnesota scoring machine.....and we're comparing him to Miller.

Interesting.

I'm one of them who's not sold on howard what so ever... and i really don't like osgood's regular season play... the goaltending situation in detroit is as usual then...

[gcom007 1,465]

Like many goalies, Howard has a lot of the technical skill and physical ability to be a solid goaltender for a long time. He definitely wouldn't be the first rookie goalie to have a strong first season only to disappear in subsequent years.

That said, I think the key to his long term success is him working out some rather glaring issues in his fundamentals. His positioning is still not as strong as it could be which leads to having to be more acrobatic and "hopeful" in a Hasek-like manner. It's worked thus far, but at this stage in career, there's no reason not to work it out. The other thing is the biggest thing, and that's rebound control and general puck control which is quite frankly poor. Eventually teams will learn how to capitalize on that more and more so it needs to get worked out for long-term success.

But I stress, these are both things that he can absolutely work out through the off-season and into next season and I have no doubt that the Wings will push that.

The other thing of course is simply how his head holds up. A goalie can have all the physical tools, but if he can't keep a cool, steady head, he's screwed. Thankfully again, he's got one of the best guys to learn from sitting next to him in the locker room everyday in Chris Osgood.

And also, we'll have to see how he plays in the playoffs when all the pressure is on. That's the biggest thing for a goalie and it really could change everything, for better or for worse.

So I think he's definitely got a good shot of being a real go-to guy in this league. If he works out a couple of fundamental things and keeps a steady head, I think Howard's as good of a bet as any to at the very least be the next long-term Wings goalie.

[gcom007 1,465]

Ozzie gives up 3 goals to the lowly Washington Capitals......and we're calling for his head. Jimmy gives up 3 goals to the high octane Minnesota scoring machine.....and we're comparing him to Miller.

Interesting.

Not too many were really calling for Osgood's head, and no one can honestly deny that Howard's having an outstanding rookie year. Granted, that doesn't naturally equate to long-term success, but it's most-certainly impressive none the less.

[gcom007 1,465]

Then again the rebounds isn't his worst part it's the stickhandling, when the puck comes to him he just bats it away to the corner with one hand instead of taking it two-hands and pass it with good accuracy

Yeah...still, the rebounds worry me more long-term, but I agree, his puck control/handling skills definitely need improving especially if they do away with the trapezoid. The way he's played the puck so far this year almost makes me thankful for the trapezoid when Howard's in net. Less space for him to worry about...he's gotten quite adept at doing all he has to to stop shots, but far too often he just doesn't seem to know what to do with the puck aside from blocking it.

[eva unit zero 271]

Howard keeps his head in an Ozzie-like fashion, and gets his rebounds/positioning under control, as well as improving his stickwork (two things I have been calling for ALL SEASON), and he'll be a Vezina contender for years to come.

If he can't fix those issues, the rest of the league will figure him out, he won't be keeping his numbers among the elite, and he'll be considered a tier-2 starter at best.

[CenterIce 83]

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.

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.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I thought we were supposed to trade him for Biron.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Finnish Wing

[Carman 387]

I thought we were supposed to trade him for Biron.

Yep, I was about as wrong as you can get wasn't I? haha

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Jimmy's rebound control is markedly improved from what it was at the beginning of the year and I have no doubt that it will continue to improve and improve more so in the off season. Jimmy is still getting accustomed to the style of play in the NHL and will adjust his game accordingly, i.e. improving his stick handling abilities.