Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) 2. Howard still providing quality startsNot so fast for those who were prepared to anoint the Columbus Blue Jackets this year's dark horse contender a la last year's Phoenix Coyotes. The Blue Jackets have been impressive, no doubt, but the Detroit Red Wings served notice that the old dogs can still hunt by sweeping a home-and-home affair from Columbus over the weekend. It was an interesting clash given some of the parallels between the two teams. Two years ago, Columbus netminder Steve Mason jumped from junior hockey to NHL stardom, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and adding a Vezina Trophy nomination to his youthful resume. Last season, Mason imploded and the Blue Jackets faded back into obscurity. Last season, Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard emerged from a four-year apprenticeship in the AHL and shocked many by leading the injury-plagued Red Wings from deep in the standings into the playoffs for the 19th straight season. Howard was nominated for the Calder Trophy and received our top vote, although he was bested by Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers (by the way, how's that sophomore season going, Tyler?). Unlike Mason, though, Howard has continued to provide both consistency and quality between the Detroit pipes in his sophomore campaign. Although peers Carey Price, Michal Neuvirth, Tim Thomas and Sergei Bobrovsky have received most of the goaltending attention through the first quarter of the season, Howard has quietly compiled a sparkling 13-2-2 record and the Wings are considered by most to be the best team in the Western Conference at the quarter pole (and among the top two or three teams in the league). "He's earned the right to feel confident about himself," head coach Mike Babcock said recently. Now, there is a fine line between confident and cocky, something Mason learned the hard way last season. Howard, perhaps because he is older at 26, is quick to deflect praise for his play and just as quick to accept responsibility when he doesn't play well. Babcock said that when he meets with the media after a game, "if he [Howard] hasn't played well he's already told the press he wasn't very good." "He's accountable," the coach said. For his part, Howard said it's easy not to become complacent in a dressing room with guys like Nicklas Lidstrom, having a Hart Trophy kind of season at age 40, and hard-working stars like Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. But here's the dilemma for the Wings: With Chris Osgood trying to rehab a lingering groin issue and not having played well when he was healthy, there are issues about the team's goaltending depth. "He can't play every night," Babcock said of Howard. With the Wings hard against the salary cap, it's going to present a dilemma for GM Ken Holland moving forward. That's to say nothing of the fact that Howard can become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Stay tuned. ESPN Edited November 30, 2010 by Konnan511 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roboturner 562 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 What kind of contract do you guys think Howard will get? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 He's definitely had a good start to the year. A slump can kick in anytime though. The good thing right now is that Jimmy and those around him seem to be safeguarding against that as much as possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) What kind of contract do you guys think Howard will get? Me guess is between 2 and 3.5 mil unless we spread it out over 10+ years we could probably get away with 5-3-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-2-1-1-1 = 2.37 cap hit. But as every knows, it's a badddd idea to give a goalie a long contract. If he gets a 3-6 year deal I see him getting a 3-5 cap hit contract, simlilar to Halaks. Edited November 30, 2010 by Konnan511 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted November 30, 2010 Me guess is between 2.5 and 3.5 mil unless we spread it out over 10+ years we could probably get away with 5-4-4-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-1-1 = 2.66 cap hit. I seriously doubt Holland would sign such a long contract for a goaltender. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WMUCarGuy 8 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 I think as we saw this past off season that most teams won't bank huge on a goalie and there are enough quality players out there that even the best out there won't be able to command mega money. I'd guess around $3M a year, but what do I know... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 I'd say a $3M, five-year contract. Perhaps slightly more if we succeed in the playoffs, slightly less if we flounder and Howard is a part of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingcapt 52 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 im guessing betweeen a 4 and 5 years deal and between a 3 and 4.5million cap hit. BAdddddd idea to give long term contract to a goalie.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 All depends on how he performs in the playoffs. That is where his legacy will eventually live or die on this team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) The fact of the matter is, howard is not top 10 in any category, GAA, SV%, SO etc.. so kenny holland will use that in the contract discussions, no more than 2M should he get, 4.5M!? get real, wings won't have 4.5M in their goalie, they put it on defense instead. Edit: Looking more into it, howard is ranked 20th in SV% which is the best stat to tell if a goalie is good or not., not very good is it. Edited November 30, 2010 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 The fact of the matter is, howard is not top 10 in any category, GAA, SV%, SO etc.. so kenny holland will use that in the contract discussions, no more than 2M should he get, 4.5M!? get real, wings won't have 4.5M in their goalie, they put it on defense instead. Edit: Looking more into it, howard is ranked 20th in SV% which is the best stat to tell if a goalie is good or not., not very good is it. Keep in mind he had a rough 3 or 4 games, which is going to shoot that SV% skyhigh. He'll lock it down as the season progresses. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 Howard is good but his not amazing I highly doubt he demands more then 3 - 3.5 a year. IMO we should sign Howard to a 2 or 3 year at 2.850 - 3.250. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 What kind of contract do you guys think Howard will get? Contract-wise I'm pretty happy Jimmy is doing 'good' versus 'great' right now and his blah playoffs will help keep his salary manageable. I'm hoping a 3-5 year contract closer to $3.5m versus the $4.5m+ the elite goalies are getting. I'd be all in favor of signing Howard sooner than later, hopefully he does not hold off until the playoffs (would prefer to not have that on his mind as well). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest scottj Report post Posted November 30, 2010 The fact of the matter is, howard is not top 10 in any category, GAA, SV%, SO etc.. What about wins? If he's not in the top 10 in wins then I dunno what to think N yeah, like somebody said, he did just come off of a bad few games. He's not vezina trophy material yet but that's what the next couple years are for. For his second year in the nhl, I think he's pretty damn good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) What about wins? If he's not in the top 10 in wins then I dunno what to think N yeah, like somebody said, he did just come off of a bad few games. He's not vezina trophy material yet but that's what the next couple years are for. For his second year in the nhl, I think he's pretty damn good. He's 2nd in wins at 13 behind my man carey price. The team in front of him score alot of goals, 2nd in the league in Goals for (wings played less games) Edited November 30, 2010 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted November 30, 2010 that's weird, because 7 other teams have scored more than detroit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) that's weird, because 7 other teams have scored more than detroit They have played more games, i guess it's called Average Goals Per Game(?) Edit: But maybe this is just for western conference... ah whatever. Edited November 30, 2010 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truebladearmy 33 Report post Posted November 30, 2010 The fact of the matter is, howard is not top 10 in any category, GAA, SV%, SO etc.. so kenny holland will use that in the contract discussions, no more than 2M should he get, 4.5M!? get real, wings won't have 4.5M in their goalie, they put it on defense instead. Edit: Looking more into it, howard is ranked 20th in SV% which is the best stat to tell if a goalie is good or not., not very good is it. He finished 5th in SvPct last year. The last few games have hurt his stats a bit, but they're still mostly all wins. His playoff performance will be what mostly determines his salary for the next few years I'd bet. If he keeps winning it will factor in too. One thing about Howard is that he's mostly consistent every single night, and the Wings as an organization seems more than confident in him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted December 1, 2010 that's weird, because 7 other teams have scored more than detroit Not per game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted December 1, 2010 thank you for enlightening me 8 hours later Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted December 1, 2010 thank you for enlightening me 8 hours later Always here to help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thegerkin 189 Report post Posted December 1, 2010 I'd like to see a 3-5 year contract. Maybe incentive bonuses based on # of starts, win, GAA, etc... And for the sake of Jebus, no DiPietro "9,000 years + soul of first born" kind of contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted December 1, 2010 What kind of contract do you guys think Howard will get? He's been damn solid and could have a great career here, as long as he doesn't get greedy - Holland has made it a point and other teams have followed suit... you don't win the big one with a bloated contract for a goalie in today's NHL. I would guess 3-5 years at a cap hit of 2.5 a year or LESS.... there is no way Holland hampers our cap with a big contract for a goalie... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted December 1, 2010 pekka rinne money - $3,400,000 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted December 1, 2010 Thank god howard has a deadly offensive team in front of him this year, his GAA getting higher and higher and his sv% is sub-par, but the team is still winning games... howard should be thankful. (Not meant to trash howard just saying the team in front of him is doing the job) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites