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Brett Howden

Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Brett Howden

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The Vegas Golden Knights are using their Expansion Draft exemption to their benefit today, strengthening their greatest position of need by adding a second center via trade before the NHL roster freeze set in. Believed to be the final trade submitted prior to the deadline, Vegas has acquired forward Brett Howden from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2022 fourth-round pick and defenseman Nick DeSimone. 

Howden appeared to be on the outside of the Rangers’ planned protection scheme and this trade all but confirms that. Although Howden is a former top prospect, a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016, his offense has not translated to the pro game. In fact, his scoring has been on the decline in each of his three NHL seasons. Howden works hard, plays the center position well, is a penalty kill asset, and his character is well-regarded, but his ceiling appears to be that of a bottom-six forward. If he learns to use his 6’3″, 200-lb. frame in a more physical manner, he could still become an impact forward given his youth and the flashes of ability he has shown. However, the Rangers were not willing to sacrifice another forward for a player who they have not seen enough consistent improvement from.

In Vegas, the Knights are exempt from the Expansion Draft and happy to take a chance on a center who otherwise could have gone to their new division rivals in Seattle. Howden will compete for a bottom-six center role early on, as will their other major addition today, Nolan Patrick, but there is potential for either center to climb up the roster given the team’s shallow depth at center. Improving that position, even with just a solid but unspectacular addition, is well worth a mid-round pick and aging prospect.

DeSimone did not last long in Vegas. The defenseman was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the Mattias Janmark deal at the Trade Deadline and is on the move again a few short months later. A New York native who attended college in-state at Union College, this is a homecoming of sorts for DeSimone. The 26-year-old may be buried behind the Rangers’ deep group of young defensemen, but it never hurts to have an offensive-minded blue liner and right shot waiting in the wings.

New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Brett Howden

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The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with restricted free agent Brett Howden on a one-year contract. Howden was not eligible for salary arbitration. The one-way contract is worth $885K, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.

An extension for Howden at this point is less about what he can do for the Rangers lineup and more about what he means for the team’s expansion strategy. Getting him under contract means that the 23-year-old can serve as one of the exposure requirements for the upcoming draft, though that doesn’t guarantee that Seattle will be interested. The young forward was once an up-and-coming middle-six center with a bright future, but has played himself down and out of the Rangers lineup with an inconsistent approach. In 42 games this season he scored just a single goal, taking his total to 16 in 178 career games.

Sometimes, poor shooting luck is responsible for down years like the one Howden just experienced, and it is true that his 3% shooting percentage will likely be the lowest of his career. But he also posted dreadful possession metrics across the board, still couldn’t win a faceoff and generated just 54 shot attempts in 42 games. There’s a reason why his average ice time dropped to a career-low 12:34.

Despite all those struggles though, the fact that he comes with a first-round draft pedigree is still only 23 and did have a rather strong rookie season in 2018-19 does still make him an interesting bet for the Kraken or even another team. If there is even a chance that they can unlock the player that helped Team Canada to a World Junior gold medal in 2018, or the one who captained the Moose Jaw Warriors on a deep WHL playoff run, he could still be a valuable asset.

Brett Howden Out For Season With Broken Foot

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If the New York Rangers are going to pull off a late-season miracle and make the playoffs, it’ll be without Brett Howden. The young forward suffered a broken foot last night and will be out for the rest of the season. The team also announced that Chris Kreider and Ryan Lindgren are out on a day-to-day basis, and have recalled Morgan Barron and Tarmo Reunanen from the AHL.

It’s not really like Howden was helping the cause anyway, as the 23-year-old has had a brutal season. Through 42 games he has scored just a single goal and has just seven points despite lots of early-season opportunities. As his play has declined so has his ice time, with Howden averaging fewer than 12 minutes over the last 15 games. That’s a far cry from the 15 he got as a rookie, but it continues a downward trend as the Rangers add more offensive talent to the roster.

Originally selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016, Howden has struggled to score since entering the league. He has just 16 goals over a 178-game NHL career (plus three scoreless postseason contests last year), not nearly enough to be considered for the team’s top-nine. Always more of a playmaker first at the junior level, even that ability seems to have vanished from Howden’s game. Now as he deals with an injury, he’ll go into a contract negotiation with the Rangers without much leverage.

It will be interesting to see where New York takes things for the young forward. The team has many other young forwards pushing for playing time, including Barron who has been excellent at the minor league level. The 22-year-old was a sixth-round afterthought in 2017, but Barron developed his game at Cornell and has 21 points in 21 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack this season–his first in professional hockey. Standing an imposing 6’4″ 220-lbs, Barron provides all the size required to be a bottom-six while also adding some scoring touch around the net. Don’t expect him to reach point-per-game production to the NHL, but he doesn’t need much to pass the level Howden had been bringing this season.

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/02/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the list for today:

Boston – Jake DeBrusk
Chicago – Brandon Hagel*
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Eric Staal
Vancouver –Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Alexander Edler*, Braden Holtby*, Quinn Hughes*, Zack MacEwen*, Antoine Roussel*

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Brett Howden, New York Rangers

It’s a terrible day for the Canucks, who have added five more players to the protocol. The team is currently shut down through April 6, but there are obviously questions about whether they will need to stay dark longer than that as the team recovers. For now, their game on April 8 is still scheduled, but the league will be monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

Hagel’s addition was already reported by the Blackhawks earlier, though it is not clear how long he will be in the protocol.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/01/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the list for today:

Boston – Jake DeBrusk
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Eric Staal
NY Rangers – Brett Howden 
Vancouver –Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic*

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Alexander Volkov, Anaheim Ducks

Volkov has cleared the protocol for Anaheim and is expected to play in his first game since being traded from the Lightning last month.

The big question mark remains Vancouver, who had their game postponed last night after Gaudette’s confirmed positive result. A member of the team’s coaching staff was also put into the protocol and now Hamonic has joined them. The league has shut down the Canucks through April 6 in response.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/31/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the list for today:

Anaheim – Alexander Volkov
Boston – Jake DeBrusk
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Eric Staal
NY Rangers – Brett Howden 
Vancouver – Adam Gaudette

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Sean Kuraly, Boston Bruins

Kuraly coming off means it’s another good day for the NHL, even though Adam Gaudette’s positive test was confirmed today. The Vancouver forward will miss a minimum of ten days, but hopefully, no more positive results will show up among the Canucks roster.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/30/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the updated list released today:

Anaheim – Alexander Volkov
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Eric Staal
NY Rangers – Brett Howden 
Vancouver – Adam Gaudette*

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins; Travis Boyd, Vancouver Canucks

As reported earlier, Vancouver’s Gaudette has tested positive for Coronavirus. Whether or not it was an actual positive or a false positive will be determined by additional tests over the coming days, but for now he lands on the CPRA list and some uncertainty surrounds the Canucks.

Of course, with Boyd switching places with Gaudette and Marchand dropping off Boston’s list, this was actually a net positive day in the league’s battle with COVID. Especially when considering that Volkov, Lemieux, and Staal are only on the list due to protocols involving travel, related to their recent trades, there are only six players whose health status is actually unknown. Of those, Parise and Howden have been on the list for some time and could find themselves activated sooner rather than later.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/29/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the list so far:

Anaheim – Alexander Volkov
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Brad Marchand
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux*
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Eric Staal
NY Rangers – Brett Howden 
Ottawa – TBA
Vancouver – Travis Boyd

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Montreal Canadiens

Kotkaniemi coming off is great news for the Canadiens as they come out of their postponement, and Lemieux is only a travel-related addition after being traded from the Rangers. Overall, it’s a good day for the NHL as they continue to battle through this unique season.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/28/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the official complete list for today:

Anaheim – Alexander Volkov
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Brad Marchand
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Eric Staal*
NY Rangers – Brett Howden 
Vancouver – Travis Boyd

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Brandon Tanev, Mark Jankowski

The Montreal Canadiens added a third player to the list as Staal joins Kotkaniemi and Armia. However, Staal is on the list as he has now begun his seven-day quarantine after arriving in Montreal Saturday. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that if testing tomorrow remains status quo, Montreal should be able to practice late on Monday.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/27/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the official complete list for today:

Anaheim – Alexander Volkov
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Brad Marchand*
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Jesperi Kotkaniemi
NY Rangers – Brett Howden 
Pittsburgh – Mark Jankowski*, Brandon Tanev*
Vancouver – Travis Boyd

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: None

The NHL took another step in the wrong direction today, with Boston Bruins leading scorer Marchand hitting the list prior to their matinee game this afternoon, and Pittsburgh’s Tanev and Jankowski appearing on the published list. Bruins assistant coach Kevin Dean was also unavailable to the team today per NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin, as he was placed in the protocol due to a close contact.

Fortunately, there was one positive note and that is the New York Rangers’ coaching staff finally returning to full health. The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello notes that head coach David Quinn has finally cleared the protocol and will be back behind the bench on Sunday. However, Howden does still remain on the CPRA list.

*denotes new addition

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