Jimmy Howard signs 6-year extension with Red Wings

Jimmy Howard signed a six-year extension with the Red Wings. (Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday locked up Jimmy Howard for the next six years, re-signing the goalie to keep him with the team until 2019 and calling him "one of our most valuable players," according to the team's Twitter account.

Terms of the deal are not immediately known, but Aaron Ward of TSN tweeted earlier in April that Howard, 29, was nearing a deal with the Red Wings that would pay him approximately $5.3 million per year. If accurate, the deal would indicate a significant pay raise for Howard, who was owed $2.25 million this season before the NHL lockout began.

Howard is in his fourth season as Detroit's starting goalie, recording a 2.41 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 33 starts. He has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the league and currently has three shutouts this season, two away from the NHL lead.

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