Howard Future Hope for Red Wings
Minor League Goalie Jimmy Howard Can Eventually Lead Wings to Title
Oct 14, 2007
Goaltender Jimmy Howard is the key behind any Stanley Cup successes the Detroit Red Wings might have in future years.
That might seem far-fetched, considering that Howard is currently not on the Red Wings' roster but is instead playing for the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich. But he recently opened his season with 29 saves while the Red Wings are borrowing time with aging veterans Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood at goaltender.
Teams win Stanley Cups with hot goaltenders. It's hard to believe that either Hasek or Osgood have many quality postseasons left in their bodies although Hasek, despite being in his early 40s, continues to handle himself well.
Too many old goalies
But it's not easy thinking of many Stanley Cup champions that have won with goalies in their 40s.
Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said after the 2005-06 season that while Manny Legace let the Red Wings down in a short playoff stint and was not the answer for the future, neither was Howard, at least at that time.
But while watching Howard in training camp prior to the start of the 2007-08 season, Babcock started singing a different tune.
"I thought Howard was excellent," Babcock told Michigan Hockey Magazine after watching the former University of Maine hockey standout in a preseason workout.
Howard came into preseason camp with high hopes of making the parent team, but realized that he might start out the season in the minors.
"The bottom line is that he wants to be an NHL goalie," Babcock said. "We want him to be an NHL goalie. It's important for him to do anything he can to win a job."
Howard didn't win a job with the Detroit team in the preseason but realizes if he can stand on his head during the season, he will probably eventually be called up to the Red Wings and possibly take over the No. 1 spot.
"I'm just going out there trying to win a job," he said. "I'm trying to show them that I'm ready. I'm getting a chance."
The Red Wings have been holding the goaltending position together with band aids in the guise of older players like Hasek, Curtis Joseph and Osgood over recent years. Howard appears to be getting ready to take over in the near future. But the Wings might bring him up early this year if Hasek and Osgood show their ages and struggle. It's a long season and having them both struggle is bound to happen.
"I get the feeling this is a huge year for me," Howard said. "I want to show them I'm capable of being the goalie of the future. I'm chomping at the bit to get the opportunity."
A Stanley Cup goalie?
Red Wing fans wouldn't mind seeing Howard get in front of the net and lead Detroit to a Stanley Cup. Detroit hasn't had much Stanley Cup playoff success in past years especially because of the inconsistent play of its goalies. Usually, a red-hot goalie in the playoffs can take a team a very long ways. A team with an inconsistent goalie isn't going to go far.
The Red Wings have been waiting for a goalie like Howard to catch fire and lead them to the promised land of the Stanley Cup Finals. This could be the season.
Veteran player Kris Draper commented during the preseason how important it was for the Red Wings not to rely only on the veterans to do the job when it comes to scoring and defense.
"At this year's camp, with young guys and veterans, it was a pretty good mix," Draper told Grand Rapids area reporters during the preseason. "The younger guys can see how we prepare every day. We feel we have a good hockey club. There's some good teams in the Western Conference. But we feel we'll be there. We need to keep everyone healthy."
