Just Win, Baby! Howard understands his role with Red Wings By Michael Caples
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his season Red Wings management will have their eyes fixed on the ‘other guy’ between the pipes. The Red Wings hope that rookie goalie Jimmy Howard can fill the role of back-up as successfully as Ty Conklin did last season. The 25-year-old Howard, the Wings’ second-round pick in 2003, came to Detroit with high expectations. After a standout career at the University of Maine, he spent four years cutting his teeth in Grand Rapids. Now, in the final season of his contract, Howard can call Detroit home. He has a permanent – as permanent as permanent can be – locker stall next to Osgood, and he won’t be taking cab rides across the state. The young goaltender is enjoying his newfound stability. “It feels good,” Howard said. “It’s been a long time coming, sort of. A lot of hard work has been put into this, and it feels good to finally get a legit chance.”
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