The Vegas Golden Knights have re-signed forward Brett Howden to a two-year contract extension. According to the Las Vegas Sun’s Danny Webster, the deal carries a $1.9MM AAV.
The contract walks Howden, 25, to unrestricted free agency in two years’ time, and comes after an impressive playoff run. Howden scored 10 points in 22 games during Vegas’ Stanley Cup championship run, averaging a minute on Vegas’ penalty kill and more average ice time than he received during the regular season.
He came through at an important time for Vegas, registering four points in the five-game Stanley Cup final, including two goals in Game Two.
In the regular season, Howden managed 13 points in 54 games, and averaged 13:03 TOI per game, which ranked him among the least-utilized Golden Knights regulars.
Still, Howden has nearly 300 games of NHL experience, first-round pedigree (he was the 27th pick in the 2016 draft) an impressive playoff run on his resume to lend some confidence to the idea that he can be more in the NHL than just a dime-a-dozen bottom-sixer.
The Golden Knights are clearly betting on Howden, likely hoping he can step up and play a more regular role on Vegas’ penalty kill now that Reilly Smith (who averaged the third-most minutes of any Vegas forward while short-handed) is gone.
It’s not exactly a cheap contract if Howden doesn’t take any steps forward in his game. If one views this as a reward for Howden’s contributions to the Golden Knights’ first-ever Stanley Cup, though, then the deal looks a bit more reasonable, especially if Howden can take a step forward in his game next season.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
If he plays with Stone then he will produce..
Happy to get this deal done. Kid was huge in the playoffs and with this re-sign it looks like the gang will be back for another run in 2024.
He likely sticks with Stone and Stephenson, but that’s assuming Cassidy moves Roy to the Karlsson line.