According to Plan
Detroit's goaltender of the future is enjoying a pretty good present in Grand Rapids. Jimmy Howard sat down for a conversation this week regarding his development, the team's recent turnaround, and what's in store down the road.
Griff Notes: You are 6-1-1 in your last eight decisions and have been nearly unbeatable so far in December (4-1-0, 1.58 GAA, 0.950%). To what do you credit your current hot streak?
Jimmy Howard: It’s a little bit of everything. The team is on an upswing now, but we still have a long ways to go and we are out there working hard each night. Our defensive zone play has definitely picked up over the last month, to which I have to credit the majority of my success. And when the other team does get shots off, I am just making myself big and letting the puck hit me.
Griff Notes: Are you a better goalie than the one who made the 2005-06 AHL All-Rookie team, and if so, how do you think you’ve improved?
Howard: Yeah, I feel I am a better goaltender than last year. I learned so much last year being up with the Wings early on in the season and how to conduct myself as a pro. The professional game is more of a business in that it’s your life and everyday you need to come to the rink and work hard, because there is always someone that wants your position. I think my overall game has taken a jump this year due to the fact that over the summer I was training hard. I do not find myself tiring as much.
Griff Notes: When you look at previous goalies on the AHL All-Rookie team, Cam Ward (2005) led Carolina to the Stanley Cup last season, Ray Emery (2003) has taken over in Ottawa and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (1998) had that incredible playoff run with Anaheim in 2003. You’ve won your share of awards during your career, but with company like that, what does that honor mean to you?
Howard: It is a great honor. There have been a lot of good goalies that played in this league, a lot of those goalies that have won awards. But that was in the past and, as proud as I was, it is now time to focus on a new year, since what you have done in the past does not really matter to this season. As I grow as a goaltender I look ahead and start setting new highs for myself.
Griff Notes: You struggled with consistency during the playoffs last season. What did you learn from your first postseason experience as a professional, and how was it different from either the NCAA tournament or last year’s regular season?
Howard: Well the NCAA is one and you’re done. So if you have a poor outing in one game your season is over with. Last year I learned that if you have that off night in the playoffs, you still have that next night to bounce back. But like you said, last year I was up and down a lot during the playoffs. It was definitely a new learning experience for me, since it is a totally different game than the regular season.
Griff Notes: (Red Wings goaltending coach) Jim Bedard often comes to Grand Rapids to work with you and the Griffins’ other goalies. How have those sessions helped you, and what feedback does he and the rest of Detroit’s management give you about your play?
Howard: Jim Bedard has been key to my development so far early on in my professional career. He taught me a lot and showed me how to use my body size to challenge more and cut off the angles. If the shooter doesn’t have anything to shoot at, the majority of them are just going to shoot the puck into you and look for a rebound. He also showed me how to get out of the blue more and force shooters to score good goals on me if they want to find the back of the net. To give up a soft one not only deflates yourself, but your whole team as well.
Griff Notes: Since the seven-game losing streak, the team’s record is 6-2-0-1. What have been the differences with the team in regards to getting out of the funk and coming together?
Howard: There is a big difference in the dressing room with the attitude, and guys are now happy to come to the rink. When we were in that funk for a while, there wasn’t really a good contagious attitude. Nobody really wanted to be in there while we were losing. But now that we’re rolling we just need to keep it going. Credit needs to be given to Matt Ellis as he took charge and put the team on his back for a couple games. He is a great guy to have as your captain.
Griff Notes: The team has recently had some pretty intense games against teams like Toronto and Chicago, and we know from last season in Rochester that you don’t mind sticking your nose into the fray. Have games like that helped the turnaround?
Howard: Yes. It is showing that in those situations your teammates have your back. In the dressing room you want to look across the room and know that guy is going to go to battle with you. What happened with Toronto and Chicago shows that we are coming together more as a group in there because guys are willing to go out there and lay their bodies on the line for their teammates.
Griff Notes: At the start of the season, coach Greg Ireland was rotating between you and Stefan Liv, but you’ve grabbed the reins over the last six weeks. Describe your competition and relationship with Stefan.
Howard: Liv is a great guy and a great goalie. He is in an adjustment period coming over from Europe, since it is a totally different game with the smaller ice surface. You can tell in practice that he is just getting better and better and his confidence is growing each day. We are very supportive of each other. If he is in the net I want him to play well, just like when I am in the net he wants me to do well. It is a great relationship to have.
Griff Notes: You’ve played in 15 straight games and are currently on pace to break Joey MacDonald’s single-season record of 66 games played. How have you handled the workload and pressure, both physically and mentally?
Howard: I just take it day-by-day. I go out there each day and work hard, and when I am in during the games I just try to give the guys a chance to win. That is what the goalie is back there to do, and occasionally to steal the game for the guys. With the workload it is nothing new to me, except at this level. I am just taking it day-by-day listening to (assistant coach) Jimmy Paek and Jimmy Bedard on what to do and when to push or lay back a little.
Griff Notes: Detroit has a logjam in the nets right now, but Dominik Hasek and MacDonald are both free agents after this season. Looking ahead to next year, what do you envision your role with the Red Wings being?
Howard: I think being a permanent Red Wing may still be far off in the distance. I really have no control about what they do in the off-season. All I can control is how hard I work in the off-season so when training camp arrives I can go there in top physical condition and push for a job.
Griff Notes: Whether it’s the middle of summer or an off-day in December, describe your perfect day away from the rink.
Howard: Absolutely nothing. Sleeping in. Off days at this level are really vital to recharge your engines, and I just like to sit back and relax. Maybe sometimes I will catch up with any household chores I have to do, or pay some bills.
Griff Notes: It’s Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals versus Hartford, and you face a penalty shot in overtime against your old college buddy Greg Moore. Who gets to raise the Cup?
Howard: (laughing): (laughing) Definitely me. He doesn’t have the hands to deke me. He will say he does, but I know every move he has. I don’t think he could sneak one by me, I would stop him nine out of 10 times.
Griff Notes: You are 6-1-1 in your last eight decisions and have been nearly unbeatable so far in December (4-1-0, 1.58 GAA, 0.950%). To what do you credit your current hot streak?
Jimmy Howard: It’s a little bit of everything. The team is on an upswing now, but we still have a long ways to go and we are out there working hard each night. Our defensive zone play has definitely picked up over the last month, to which I have to credit the majority of my success. And when the other team does get shots off, I am just making myself big and letting the puck hit me.
Griff Notes: Are you a better goalie than the one who made the 2005-06 AHL All-Rookie team, and if so, how do you think you’ve improved?
Howard: Yeah, I feel I am a better goaltender than last year. I learned so much last year being up with the Wings early on in the season and how to conduct myself as a pro. The professional game is more of a business in that it’s your life and everyday you need to come to the rink and work hard, because there is always someone that wants your position. I think my overall game has taken a jump this year due to the fact that over the summer I was training hard. I do not find myself tiring as much.
Griff Notes: When you look at previous goalies on the AHL All-Rookie team, Cam Ward (2005) led Carolina to the Stanley Cup last season, Ray Emery (2003) has taken over in Ottawa and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (1998) had that incredible playoff run with Anaheim in 2003. You’ve won your share of awards during your career, but with company like that, what does that honor mean to you?
Howard: It is a great honor. There have been a lot of good goalies that played in this league, a lot of those goalies that have won awards. But that was in the past and, as proud as I was, it is now time to focus on a new year, since what you have done in the past does not really matter to this season. As I grow as a goaltender I look ahead and start setting new highs for myself.
Griff Notes: You struggled with consistency during the playoffs last season. What did you learn from your first postseason experience as a professional, and how was it different from either the NCAA tournament or last year’s regular season?
Howard: Well the NCAA is one and you’re done. So if you have a poor outing in one game your season is over with. Last year I learned that if you have that off night in the playoffs, you still have that next night to bounce back. But like you said, last year I was up and down a lot during the playoffs. It was definitely a new learning experience for me, since it is a totally different game than the regular season.
Griff Notes: (Red Wings goaltending coach) Jim Bedard often comes to Grand Rapids to work with you and the Griffins’ other goalies. How have those sessions helped you, and what feedback does he and the rest of Detroit’s management give you about your play?
Howard: Jim Bedard has been key to my development so far early on in my professional career. He taught me a lot and showed me how to use my body size to challenge more and cut off the angles. If the shooter doesn’t have anything to shoot at, the majority of them are just going to shoot the puck into you and look for a rebound. He also showed me how to get out of the blue more and force shooters to score good goals on me if they want to find the back of the net. To give up a soft one not only deflates yourself, but your whole team as well.
Griff Notes: Since the seven-game losing streak, the team’s record is 6-2-0-1. What have been the differences with the team in regards to getting out of the funk and coming together?
Howard: There is a big difference in the dressing room with the attitude, and guys are now happy to come to the rink. When we were in that funk for a while, there wasn’t really a good contagious attitude. Nobody really wanted to be in there while we were losing. But now that we’re rolling we just need to keep it going. Credit needs to be given to Matt Ellis as he took charge and put the team on his back for a couple games. He is a great guy to have as your captain.
Griff Notes: The team has recently had some pretty intense games against teams like Toronto and Chicago, and we know from last season in Rochester that you don’t mind sticking your nose into the fray. Have games like that helped the turnaround?
Howard: Yes. It is showing that in those situations your teammates have your back. In the dressing room you want to look across the room and know that guy is going to go to battle with you. What happened with Toronto and Chicago shows that we are coming together more as a group in there because guys are willing to go out there and lay their bodies on the line for their teammates.
Griff Notes: At the start of the season, coach Greg Ireland was rotating between you and Stefan Liv, but you’ve grabbed the reins over the last six weeks. Describe your competition and relationship with Stefan.
Howard: Liv is a great guy and a great goalie. He is in an adjustment period coming over from Europe, since it is a totally different game with the smaller ice surface. You can tell in practice that he is just getting better and better and his confidence is growing each day. We are very supportive of each other. If he is in the net I want him to play well, just like when I am in the net he wants me to do well. It is a great relationship to have.
Griff Notes: You’ve played in 15 straight games and are currently on pace to break Joey MacDonald’s single-season record of 66 games played. How have you handled the workload and pressure, both physically and mentally?
Howard: I just take it day-by-day. I go out there each day and work hard, and when I am in during the games I just try to give the guys a chance to win. That is what the goalie is back there to do, and occasionally to steal the game for the guys. With the workload it is nothing new to me, except at this level. I am just taking it day-by-day listening to (assistant coach) Jimmy Paek and Jimmy Bedard on what to do and when to push or lay back a little.
Griff Notes: Detroit has a logjam in the nets right now, but Dominik Hasek and MacDonald are both free agents after this season. Looking ahead to next year, what do you envision your role with the Red Wings being?
Howard: I think being a permanent Red Wing may still be far off in the distance. I really have no control about what they do in the off-season. All I can control is how hard I work in the off-season so when training camp arrives I can go there in top physical condition and push for a job.
Griff Notes: Whether it’s the middle of summer or an off-day in December, describe your perfect day away from the rink.
Howard: Absolutely nothing. Sleeping in. Off days at this level are really vital to recharge your engines, and I just like to sit back and relax. Maybe sometimes I will catch up with any household chores I have to do, or pay some bills.
Griff Notes: It’s Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals versus Hartford, and you face a penalty shot in overtime against your old college buddy Greg Moore. Who gets to raise the Cup?
Howard: (laughing): (laughing) Definitely me. He doesn’t have the hands to deke me. He will say he does, but I know every move he has. I don’t think he could sneak one by me, I would stop him nine out of 10 times.
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