Jimmy Howard

Born on March 26, 1984, in Syracuse, New York, Jimmy Howard was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (64th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft. Prior to his professional career, Howard played three standout seasons at the University of Maine, where he led the Maine Black Bears to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game in 2003-04. During his time at UMaine, he set NCAA records for Goals Against Average (1.19) and save percentage (.956), demonstrating early potential as a top-tier goaltender. He also earned recognition such as the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and Rookie of the Year in 2003, and the Hockey East First All-Star Team in 2004.

Howard’s professional journey began in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2005-06 season, during which he was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team. His NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings occurred on November 28, 2005. After several seasons primarily with the Griffins, Howard became the starting goaltender for the Red Wings in the 2009-10 season, finishing with 37 wins, a 2.26 goals-against average, and a .924 save percentage in 63 games. His performance earned him a runner-up position for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top rookie.

Throughout his 14-year career, all spent with the Detroit Red Wings, Howard established himself as a reliable presence in net. He signed a six-year, $31.8 million contract extension with the Red Wings on April 16, 2013, following a strong lockout-shortened season where he helped Detroit secure its 22nd consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff berth. Milestones include his 200th NHL win on October 5, 2017, and his 500th NHL game on February 14, 2019, becoming only the third Red Wings goalie to reach this achievement. Howard retired on January 28, 2021, and has since transitioned into a role as a Detroit Red Wings studio analyst for Bally Sports Detroit.