Jimmy Howard

James Russell Howard III (born March 26, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender, was a Detroit Red Wings studio analyst for Bally Sports Detroit, and was hired in June of 2026 as the goalie coach for the Detroit team of the PWHL . He spent his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings, by whom he was drafted in 2003.

Playing career Junior Howard began his junior career playing for the Westport Rideaus of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he played from ages 14–16 before joining the U.S. National Team Development Program. He played with the U.S. National Under-17 and U.S. National Under-18 teams during the 2001–02 season, playing 9 games with the Under-17 team and 26 games with the Under-18 team for a total record of 22–11–1 with four shutouts and was subsequently named USA Goaltender of the year. Howard then attended the University of Maine and played for their men's ice hockey team, the Maine Black Bears, for three seasons. While at UMaine, Howard led the Black Bears to the 2003–04 Frozen Four championship game, losing 1–0 to the University of Denver. While Howard was playing for the Black Bears, he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NHL entry draft by the Detroit Red Wings on June 21, 2003. During the 2003–04 season he set the NCAA record for GAA (1.19) and save percentage (.956). A record he held until being surpassed by Yaniv Perets (1.17) in 2022.

Professional Beginning with the 2005–06 season, Howard began his career in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins where he was occasionally called up to play for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. He became the only NHL goalie to face a penalty shot in each of his first two games. Howard's inaugural season in the AHL became what is still one of his best in professional ice hockey. During this season he set many personal records as well as franchise records, including being the first Griffin named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team and helping establish the Griffins franchise win streak record of 12. . With the retirement of Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hašek in June 2008, Howard was expected to compete with Ty Conklin for the position of backup goaltender to veteran Chris Osgood for the 2008–09 NHL season, despite Conklin's noticeable advantages in terms of experience and contract. Although Howard did not earn a permanent spot on the Red Wings roster for the 2008–09 season, he was expected to make the roster in the near future.

Howard's roster spot turned official during 2009 off-season when Detroit did not offer Conklin a new contract, instead electing to promote Howard to Osgood's full-time backup. He recorded his first win of the 2009–10 season on October 27 in relief of Osgood against the Vancouver Canucks, making 20 saves. On December 17, 2009, Howard recorded his first career shutout in a 3–0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Howard unexpectedly won the starting position mid-season after Osgood continued to struggle in regular season play as he did the season before, much earlier then expected, and managed to stabilize the net for the Red Wings. Howard finished the 2009–10 season with excellent stats, ranking him in the top 5 in GAA and Save %, and finishing with a 37–15–10 record and a nomination for the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year. Howard gained more fame in the March 22, 2010 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he grabbed Sidney Crosby from behind and put his glove in Crosby's face, after Crosby repeatedly cross-checked Howard's teammate Henrik Zetterberg.

On April 14, 2010, Howard played in his first NHL playoff game, a 3–2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. On April 20, he recorded his first career playoff shutout, making 29 saves in a 3–0 win over the Coyotes. The Coyotes were eliminated by the Red Wings when Howard's first NHL playoff series went to seven games. The Detroit Red Wings were then eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in five games. Howard recorded a 2.75 goals against average with a .915 save percentage during the postseason. Howard was also a 2010 Calder Memorial Trophy finalist, but was runner-up to Buffalo's Tyler Myers. Howard won the 2010 Detroit Red Wings-Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year Award.

Howard recorded a 21 save shutout in Detroit's season opener against the Anaheim Ducks to kick off the 2010–11 NHL season. On February 28, 2011, Howard signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings worth $2.25 million per season. The Red Wings managed to sweep the Coyotes in rematch of last year's series, but lost, in a rematch again, in seven games to the San Jose Sharks in the 2nd round of the playoffs, despite coming back this time from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7.

On January 23, 2012, in the Red Wings' 49th game, Howard recorded his 30th win of the season, before the All-Star break. The win was Detroit's 17th consecutive home victory and kept them in first place in the standings. Howard would win only five more games after the All-Star break, because of a broken finger on his stick hand suffered on February 3, 2012, that made him miss eight games, and a reoccurring groin injury later in the season that scratched him in seven other games.

During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 NHL season, Howard recorded a 21–13–7 record as the Red Wings eventually clinched their 22nd consecutive playoff berth. On April 16, 2013, Howard signed a six-year, $31.8 million contract extension with the Red Wings.

During the 2014–15 NHL season, Howard recorded a 16–7–7 record, with a 2.11 GAA and a .921 save percentage prior to the All-Star break. Howard was named to the NHL All-Star Game, however he was unable to participate due to suffering a groin tear on January 10, in a game against the Washington Capitals, and missed five weeks of the season. Following his return from his injury, Howard struggled, recording a 7–6–4 record, with 2.99 GAA and a .896 save percentage, and was eventually benched for youngster Petr Mrazek.

On April 6, 2016, Howard recorded his 22nd shutout victory as a Red Wing against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 3–0 game at Joe Louis Arena moving him to fourth in franchise history.

On December 20, 2016, Howard acquired a right knee sprain. Opposing starting goalkeeper Ben Bishop was also injured during the game. Howard was assigned to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins on February 4, 2017 for a conditioning assignment, but was eventually called back up to the NHL. Ultimately, Howard played in 26 NHL games, going 10–11–1 with a 2.10 GAA, and a .927 SV%, and in 4 AHL games, going 3–1 with a 2.11 GAA, and a .920 SV%

On October 5, 2017, Howard recorded his 200th career NHL win in a victory over the Minnesota Wild in the season opening game at Little Caesars Arena. On February 14, 2019, Howard appeared in his 500th career NHL game, becoming the third Red Wings goalie to reach the milestone, following Terry Sawchuk and Chris Osgood. He also became the 71st in NHL history and eighth American-born goalie to reach the milestone. On March 20, the Red Wings signed Howard to a one-year contract extension.

The Red Wings did not re-sign Howard for the 2020–21 season. Howard retired in January 2021.

Post-playing career In September 2022, Howard became Red Wings studio analyst for Bally Sports Detroit during the 2022–23 season.

International play

In April 2002, Howard was first selected to play for the United States in the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships in Slovakia. Playing in six tournament games, he led his team to a gold medal.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1999–00 Westport Rideaus EOJHL 22 — — — — — — — 2.66 — — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Kanata Valley Lasers CJHL 25 — — — — — — — 3.69 — — — — — — — — — 2001–02 US NTDP Juniors USHL 8 4 3 0 — 425 14 0 1.98 .927 — — — — — — — — 2001–02 US NTDP U18 NAHL 8 3 4 0 — 381 25 0 3.93 — — — — — — — — — 2001–02 US NTDP U18 USDP 19 15 4 1 — 1170 37 4 1.90 — — — — — — — — — 2002–03 University of Maine HE 21 14 6 0 — 1,151 47 3 2.45 .916 — — — — — — — — 2003–04 University of Maine HE 22 14 4 3 — 1,364 27 6 1.19 .956 — — — — — — — — 2004–05 University of Maine HE 39 19 13 7 — 2,310 74 6 1.92 .924 — — — — — — — — 2005–06 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 38 27 6 — 2 2,141 92 2 2.58 .910 14 6 7 763 44 0 3.46 .885 2005–06 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 1 2 — 0 200 10 0 2.98 .904 — — — — — — — — 2006–07 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 49 21 21 — 3 2,776 125 6 2.70 .911 7 3 4 434 14 0 1.93 .927 2007–08 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 54 21 28 — 2 3,097 146 2 2.83 .907 — — — — — — — — 2007–08 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 0 2 — 0 197 7 0 2.13 .926 — — — — — — — — 2008–09 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 45 21 18 — 4 2,644 112 4 2.54 .916 10 4 6 598 24 0 2.41 .900 2008–09 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 1 — 0 59 4 0 4.10 .857 — — — — — — — — 2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 37 15 — 10 3,740 141 3 2.26 .924 12 5 7 720 33 1 2.75 .915 2010–11 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 37 17 — 5 3,615 168 2 2.79 .908 11 7 4 673 28 0 2.50 .923 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 57 35 17 — 4 3,360 119 6 2.13 .920 5 1 4 295 13 0 2.64 .888 2012–13 Detroit Red Wings NHL 42 21 13 — 7 2,446 87 5 2.13 .923 14 7 7 859 35 1 2.44 .924 2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 51 21 19 — 11 3,004 133 2 2.66 .910 3 1 2 178 6 1 2.02 .931 2014–15 Detroit Red Wings NHL 53 23 13 — 11 2,971 121 2 2.44 .910 1 0 0 20 1 0 3.00 .917 2015–16 Detroit Red Wings NHL 37 14 14 — 5 1,974 92 2 2.80 .906 2 0 2 118 7 0 3.59 .891 2016–17 Detroit Red Wings NHL 26 10 11 — 1 1,397 49 1 2.10 .927 — — — — — — — — 2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 4 3 1 — 0 227 8 1 2.11 .920 — — — — — — — — 2017–18 Detroit Red Wings NHL 60 22 27 — 9 3,368 160 1 2.85 .910 — — — — — — — — 2018–19 Detroit Red Wings NHL 55 23 22 — 5 3,053 156 0 3.07 .909 — — — — — — — — 2019–20 Detroit Red Wings NHL 27 2 23 — 2 1,372 96 0 4.20 .882 — — — — — — — — 2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 2 1 1 — 0 124 5 0 2.42 .917 — — — — — — — — NHL totals 543 246 196 — 70 30,755 1,343 24 2.62 .912 48 21 26 2,864 123 3 2.58 .918

International Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2002 United States WJC18 6 360 8 1 1.33 .954 2003 United States WJC 4th 3 0 1 0 79 8 0 6.08 .800 2012 United States WC 7th 7 5 2 — 421 17 1 2.42 .911 2014 United States OG 4th — — — — — — — — — 2017 United States WC 5th 6 4 2 — 355 11 1 1.86 .920 Junior totals 9 — — — 439 16 1 2.19 — Senior totals 13 9 4 — 776 28 2 2.16 .915

Awards and honors injured, did not play