Published: September 19, 2007 09:31 am         

Howard patiently waiting for his turn

He's been solid for the Griffins

TRAVERSE CITY -- Jimmy Howard has had a taste of it. Enough to know he wants more. Lots more.

Howard, a former All-America goalie at the University of Maine, has been tabbed as Detroit's goalie of the future ever since the Red Wings drafted him in 2003. He's spent the last two seasons putting up solid numbers at the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids and is now waiting for his turn in Detroit.

Thanks to an intense off-season training regimen, Howard's caught the attention of coaches and management at training camp. He reported leaner and quicker.

"There's a big plus side with Jimmy," Red Wings goaltender coach Jim Bedard said. "He's very quick for a guy his size and he's learning the game at this level. The American Hockey League is very demanding. There's lots of travel and lots of games and it's a good proving ground for a goalie. He's had a little taste of the NHL and it motivates him to keep pushing, keep improving."

Howard's "taste" of life in the NHL came during his first year with the Red Wings. He was called up from Grand Rapids when Detroit goalies Manny Legace and Chris Osgood were sidelined with injuries. He saw duty in four games, posting a 1-2 record with a respectable 2.99 goals against average.

The highlight of Howard's young professional career, naturally, is his one NHL victory to date. It came against Los Angeles and Howard still smiles when he thinks about that night.

"It was totally surreal at the time, like a dream come true," he said, shaking his head at the memory. "That was my chance to play in the NHL. Once you get a taste of it, you definitely want more."

Howard understands the present situation quite well. Even though he would like to be with the big club, continuing on with Grand Rapids is fine with him. The Red Wings are well represented in the nets with veterans Dominik Hasek and Osgood. Howard's mission is to stay sharp while cultivating his skills with the Griffins and to be ready for a call that could come at any time.

"That's part of the job," he said. "I don't wish anything bad to happen to Dom or Ozzie but I have to be ready if it does. It's just the way things are."

"Let's face it; things can change very quickly in this league," Bedard said. "Jimmy knows he has to be ready if something happens. That's a fact of life for him. One thing about this organization is that everybody recognizes how important it is to be prepared. Nobody likes surprises. We have to have Jimmy ready just in case."

Howard, who posted a 47-23-10 record with 15 shutouts during his three seasons at Maine and a 48-27 record the past two years with Grand Rapids, is using training camp to show Bedard and coach Mike Babcock that they can have confidence in his abilities.

"I want to come and show I'm capable of playing in the NHL and capable of being the goalie of the future," Howard said. "I've got to keep proving myself, keep getting better."

Howard finished with a 21-21 record with the Griffins last year with six shutouts and a 2.70 goals against average. He was hampered by an injury in the early part of the season before rebounding to play well in the second half and performing well in the playoffs (1.93 GAA in seven games).

"I played well in the second half of the season and that carried into the playoffs," Howard said. "I think my game is definitely getting better as I get more experience."

Something else that is helping his game is his conditioning. Howard devotes time to the gym now during the off-season and it's readily evident in his physique.

"Jimmy looks a lot different now than he did when we first drafted him," Bedard said. "He knew he needed to improve in that area and he has. He's in much better physical condition and he's a lot stronger and more flexible."

Howard's off-season training routine includes circuit training and weight training with lots of repetitions to build muscle tone as opposed to muscle mass.

"I don't need to look like Kris Draper," Howard said laughingly. "For a goalie, flexibility is the big thing. You get too much bulk and it gets in the way."

The only thing that could possibly get in the way of the Red Wings' goalie of the future is his not performing up to expected standards. He's doing everything he can to assure that won't happen.

"I'm learning and getting better," he said. "Being around Dom and Ozzie helps. Those guys have proven themselves as top NHL goalies. I've learned a lot from them. I'm more under control now, letting the puck come to me more. Every time you're on the ice is a chance to improve your game."