Just one night after another great performance against his childhood team, Jimmy Howard has signed a contract extension with the Red Wings that will keep him in Detroit for one more season:
The Detroit #RedWings today signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a one-year contract extension.
Details: https://t.co/uPuP8IWPgZ pic.twitter.com/6fk8HRrJO2
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 20, 2019
Howard, who will be 35 on the 26th (the anniversary of Fight Night at the Joe, no less), is 19-20-5 this season with a .908 save percentage. After being selected to the All-Star game and sticking around Detroit through this year’s trade deadline, the Wings brought him back for one more season. Bob McKenzie has the details:
Howard’s contract does NOT have any No Trade Clauses. So zero limitations on DET’s ability to trade him.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 20, 2019
All-in-all, this is a really good deal for both sides. Howard gets paid more if the team is ready to take the next step with him, but he’s also on a term and cap-friendly deal for a goalie if the Wings need the flexibility to flip him at next year’s deadline (provided there’s an actual market for goalies at that time).
Without an heir apparent in the pipeline for the Wings at the goaltending position, Howard should provide stability in front of the net for one more year while the team discovers whether to keep pressing on their current rebuild strategy or whether it’s appropriate to try accelerating things so soon.
