According to Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Red Wings have decided to part ways with veteran netminder Jimmy Howard and Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will use this offseason to find a replacement.
Noting that another poor season means the Red Wings have officially decided that Howard staying in Detroit isn’t best for their rebuild, he was given an opportunity to turn his game around and couldn’t do so. As such, with few options available as a No. 1 in net for the Red Wings, Yzerman will look to the trade or free agency market.
St. James wrote:
Howard, 36, was signed to a one-year extension last season by then-general manager Ken Holland with the mindset that if Howard played well, he’d be back for another season. That won’t happen – Howard, 36, struggled in 2019-20: 2-23-2 with a 4.20 GAA and .882 save percentage.
With Yzerman ready to see what’s out there, St. James notes Braden Holtby, of the Washington Capitals, will headline the list of potential candidates. Also noting Cam Talbot, Jaroslav Halak, Anton Khudobin, Thomas Greiss and Jacob Markstrom as options, there should be no shortage of players from which to choose. There will also be cap strapped teams ready to make deals.
Will Howard Retire or Find Somewhere Else to Play?
With plenty of retirement talk thanks to a shortened season, it’s possible he calls it quits. It’s not likely he’ll get anything close to the $4 million he made last season, especially in an NHL where teams will be extra cautious about how they spend their money in what could be a flat salary cap.
If he’s keen on playing, there’s a chance he’ll get a look at a backup somewhere this next season on another one-year deal.
Related: Canadiens Waiting on Alex Romanov, Among Six Teams In Interesting Position
