Detroit Red Wings Extend Goalie Jimmy Howard for 2 Years: A Brilliant Move

Despite the expectations that the Detroit Red Wings would be silent on trade-deadline day, they've made a pretty loud statement just hours away from the 3pm EST deadline— and it's not even a trade.

The Red Wings announced on Monday that they've extended goalie Jimmy Howard for two years at a cost of $2.25 million per year.

This ends the speculation that Howard, due to lack-luster numbers this season, could be viewed as a problem for his team, or even trade bait to acquire a veteran goalie for the playoff run.

In typical fashion, the Red Wings have not only secured a key part of their future moving forward, but have done so at a relative discount.

The nitpickers among the fan base (and, admittedly, there are more in Detroit than anywhere else) might see this move as pre-mature and maybe even an over-payment for the 26-year-old netminder.

Howard's numbers have dropped significantly from his banner year last season and he has looked more vulnerable for longer stretches of time this season than he did in 2009-10.

Still, Howard leads the league in wins and what's more, he has shown he plays his best hockey when his team needs it most—like just a couple of weeks ago when his team was facing the daunting Boston Bruins after just being booed of home ice for losing to the Nashville Predators.

The Boston game marked a seminal moment for the Wings season: Win, and the panic over your bad record of late goes away.  Lose, and it only gets more intense.

Howard's team needed a solid effort from him in net, and with one goal against on 26 shots, that's just what he gave them.

Indeed, earlier in the season, we've seen Howard face red-hot teams in Montreal and Vancouver, teams that were the stiffest competition the Wings had faced to that point in the season, and Howard beat them both in stunning fashion.

Yes, Howard's stats are much lower than he or the Wings would like them to be, but, at the end of the day, he's a warrior in net and plays best when the pressure is on.

That's what he'll be doing for the next two years in Detroit.

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