If the Red Wings are going to deal goaltender Jimmy Howard they’ll take nothing less than a first round pick. That’s according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman who in last Wednesday’s column stated Detroit would accept nothing less in return for their 34-year-old netminder in the last season of his contract.
Now at first glance it may seem as though Ken Holland and the Red Wings front office is smoking crack for wanting that kind of return for Howard who – all things considered – has been underrated during his tenure in the Motor City.
However, demanding a first round pick in return for their starting goaltender is exactly what the Red Wings should be doing.
First Howard has been solid this season posting a 10-4 record with 2.67 GAA and .923 save percentage. This comes too while playing behind a team that started five rookies in the opening game of the season while allowing a staggering minus-165 shot differential so far this season.
Second, Howard has proven to be a goaltender that can be depended on during the playoffs. Although he does have a record that’s below .500 at 21-26 during the postseason, his .918 save percentage and 2.58 GAA would suggest that the slightly lopsided win-loss record isn’t entirely (or even close to) his fault.
Third, there’s more than likely going to be a market for a solid veteran goaltender come the February 26th NHL trade deadline. As it stands, the Flyers (despite their standing in the Eastern Conference) could very well be in the market for a starting goaltender and the same goes for their cross-state rivals in Pittsburgh. Likewise out west the Calgary Flames could also certainly use an upgrade in net but could very well demand the Wings take Mike Smith in return who’s also in the final year of his contract.
Not to mention too, quality goaltending in the playoffs can be the difference between moving on to the next round or booking your tee times for an early offseason.
Finally though the Wings are in a position right now where the desperation level to unload Jimmy Howard just ins’t there. In other words, considering where Detroit is in their rebuild they’re in a very comfortable position with not a whole lot to lose. As far as standing goes, they’re 14-14-4 on the season and sit three-points behind Montreal for the second wild card spot in the East. On the flip, the Red Wings’ record and where they currently stand in the East is no way a suggestion that Ken Holland should be a buyer going into the deadline.
Quite the contrary.
Detroit can ill-afford moving young pieces for some pie in the sky notion that they’re going to not just go to the playoffs but actually make some noise in the NHL postseason. But as eluded to before, because of their standing and where they’re at in the rebuild the Red Wings don’t necessarily have to trade Howard or feel the tremendous pressure to do so. Likewise, there’s a good chance they re-sign him this offseason considering any heir apparent to the starting job coming up through the minors just isn’t there yet.