The Detroit Red Wings are nearing a one-year extension with goaltender Jimmy Howard, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
St. James reports the contract is “in the $4 million range.”
“I love playing for the Wings. My family loves living in Detroit. It’s very special,” Howard said after stopping 41 shots in a Red Wings win over the New York Rangers. “I’ll turn 35 here in a week and from there on out, I’m playing with one-year contracts.”
Howard’s current six-year, $31.75 million contract expires at the end of this season.
Both Howard and Red Wings GM Ken Holland told Dan Rosen of NHL.com that the contract will be made official once some final details are worked out.
The Red Wings took Howard in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft and he’s been the team’s primary starter since the 2009-10 season. The two-time all-star has a career record of 239-171-68 with a 2.54 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 24 shutouts.
This year Howard has split time with Jonathan Bernier and is expected to do so again next season. In 46 starts this season, he has a 19-20-5 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
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