Speculation: Howard expected to hit the free-agency market

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Jimmy Howard's time in Detroit is likely coming to an end, but how will the Red Wings replace him?

I imagine he either retires or signs as a back-up to a contending team at a discount. Could see the Winnipeg Jets being potential suitors if Brossoit finds a team that gives him a chance to be a starter, but one I think is very likely is Vegas considering it's highly likely Lehner won't be there as a back-up. And he is just the right back-up to Marc-Andre Fleury, plus I see him signing as low as $700K to as high as $1.5M for one season.

But also, I imagine this opens the door for teams to send cap dump to Detroit when it comes to goalies. But the one I think makes the most sense is St. Louis sending Jake Allen to Detroit considering the Blues need to re-sign Pietrangelo.

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[Jannik Hansen]

It’s unfortunate he had to play the last games of his career with the Dead Things.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

I personally can't see Howard signing anywhere other then Detroit, He pretty much said that it's Detroit or retirement. He looked pretty slow and not quite with it this year. He needs to retire ASAP.

 

[Mrfenn92]

This isn't surprising at all. My guess it's retirement time.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

I personally can't see Howard signing anywhere other then Detroit, He pretty much said that it's Detroit or retirement. He looked pretty slow and not quite with it this year. He needs to retire ASAP.

I can see him joining FSD.

 

[Hogan86]

Free agency aka, retirement. Had some fantastic seasons with the Wings, but he's 36 years old and hasn't had a great season since 2012.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

I can see him joining FSD.

Join his buddy Ozzy, I could see that he and his wife love the area. I'd be surprised if he doesn't retire and stay there locally.

 

[drw02]

It’s unfortunate he had to play the last games of his career with the Dead Things.

He was the main reason they were sooo bad

 

[Nut Upstrom]

He was the main reason they were sooo bad

Yea, one of about a dozen main reasons.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

I personally can't see Howard signing anywhere other then Detroit, He pretty much said that it's Detroit or retirement. He looked pretty slow and not quite with it this year. He needs to retire ASAP.

you're always going to look pretty slow and bad to clean up the messes in front of him that the detroit D corps was hanging him and bernier out to dry routinely

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Should sign with Montreal. They need another dud of a backup.

 

[Leviathan]

Howard's done.

As far as the Detroit crease, they have lots of options. Not everyone will want to sign there but there is a fairly open crease so someone will take the money to go. The best selling point would be if they won the lottery and had Lafreniere to dangle in terms of the team improving within the next few years.

 

[PullHard]

There is no way Howard will uproot his family for one more year for an extra million bucks after all he has made in his career

Also, who in their right mind would sign him at this stage? He is very obviously done as an NHL goalie

 

[themelkman]

Probably not good enough for what we need but ive always liked the idea of him on the sharks

 

[WingsMJN2965]

It’s unfortunate he had to play the last games of his career with the Dead Things.

Needs to go to Vancouver, where he can continue not winning a Cup.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

He was the main reason they were sooo bad

Lol. That's not even remotely true. Bernier had several games that he stood on his head and still couldn't win because the team was so bad.

 

[caley]

I dunno. I think after a season in which he only played 27 games and somehow managed to win just 2 (!!!) of them, there aren't going to be a ton of suitors for him. I do wonder about Edmonton because of Ken Holland's longstanding faith in him and Mike Smith is going to be 39 but still...I think he retires.

 

[Jumptheshark]

It’s unfortunate he had to play the last games of his career with the Dead Things.

HE only played for the Red Wings

he is 36 and there will be a lot of goalie movement this off season. HE made 4 mill last year and I can not see a team offering more then 1.5 to 2 for him to be the back up. He might just call it a career and take a job off the ice with the wings

 

[Dr Awesome]

Could see retirement, but there will be few opportunities to be backup on strong teams if he’s will to make that move.

 

[Oddbob]

I expect he will retire, or sign as backup for 750,000-1,000,000 with someone else. Leaning 85% that he retires.

 

[raymond23]

Howie is done, his body is broken.

It was hard to watch how terrible his late lateral movement had gotten. He could barely go post to post this year.

Hopefully he’s able to recover but that would be a miracle imo.

 

[Batrous]

Well, it would seem the Wings have officially moved on from him.



I suspect he will probably retire at this point given how things have gone.

 

[Nucks for the Cup]

Only way I see him getting a contract is if he signs as a 3rd goalie/emergency goalie for covid reasons

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

Doubt Howard gets any more then a PTO.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

^
Pretty much

He looks finished and if he does think he can give it a go somewhere else a PTO is all he will get