Change is good

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/04/2025 (399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAS VEGAS – Brett Howden was at a career crossroads.

The Oakbank product had already been part of a blockbuster deal involving Ryan McDonagh after being chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, but things had stalled for him as a member of the New York Rangers after three seasons.

Enter the Vegas Golden Knights, who acquired the speedy forward on July 17 of 2021 for a fourth round draft pick in 2022 and a defence prospect named Nick DeSimone, who now plays for Utah HC.

This bet undoubtedly paid off for the Golden Knights — and for Howden, who is in the midst of a career season that includes 22 goals and 36 points in 73 games.

“He needed a change and sometimes that happens for young players. He never spent any time in the American Hockey League and likely would have benefitted from that,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “I remember saying at the time that we traded for the person and now he’s in the prime of his career for us. He’s got size and speed.

“He’s become an extremely valuable player and he’s relied on. If you look at all of our forwards, no one wears more hats than he does.”

Howden, who turned 27 last month, is effective on the wing, but also strong down the middle. He can play more of a checking line role, but also has the smarts and explosiveness to play up the lineup.

He’s a tenacious forechecker who drives hard to the blue paint — and he can also see time on the penalty kill.

He’s a Jack of all trades and master of several.

Howden (whose previous high for goals was nine) is one of five players who have signed contract extensions with the Golden Knights over the course of the season, including fellow Manitoban Keegan Kolesar, goalie Adin Hill and defencemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb.

That quintet of players all cut their teeth in the Western Hockey League, where McCrimmon was a longtime head coach and executive before joining the Knights as an expansion franchise.

“When we went into the season with players that we had in the final year of their contracts, we worked hard to get extensions and we’re really happy with those guys,” said McCrimmon. “They’re really happy here. They like that the organization tries to win, they’re treated great and they love living here. That’s what made it work for every one of those guys.”

Just last season, blue-liner Noah Hanifin re-upping with the Golden Knights after he was acquired from the Calgary Flames, foregoing the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Golden Knights also convinced veteran winger and Stanley Cup winner Brandon Saad to sign a one-year deal after he was bought out by the St. Louis Blues and then brought back Original Misfit winger Reilly Smith in a trade with the Rangers.

Vegas had several notable departures at the forward position in free agency, including 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchesault (Nashville Predators), centre Chandler Stephenson (Seattle Kraken), rugged winger William Carrier (Carolina Hurricanes) and winger Michael Amadio (Ottawa Senators).

That created more opportunities and increased ice time for guys like Howden and Kolesar to play an enhanced role and for winger Pavel Dorofeyev (who is up to 32 goals and 47 points in 75 games) to take another step in his development.

“Those players needed the chance to do more. We felt they were ready to do more,” said McCrimmon.

Since their inaugural season in 2017-18, the Golden Knights have done an excellent job of establishing a winning culture.

After being eliminated in the first round in 2023 in a hard-fought, seven-game series with the Dallas Stars, the Golden Knights look poised to take another shot at a deep run.

They’re currently three points up on the Los Angeles Kings in the chase for top spot in the Pacific Division and are trying to put some distance between themselves and the Edmonton Oilers.

“We’ve had a pretty good year by most metrics,” said McCrimmon. “You’re always striving to be consistent and to improve during the season. We’ve done that. It’s a long year and there are going to be some ups-and-downs. We had a 10-win month in December and a 10-win month in March. We’ve kept ourselves in the race. I like where we’re at.

“We’ll see how it plays out. After that, we’re changing gears again and getting ready for the playoffs.”

Vegas got defenceman Alex Pietrangelo back for the game against the Jets and power forward Tomas Hertl (upper body) is inching closer to a return after skating in a non-contact jersey this week.

Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel was contained in a 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, but he’s already set a franchise mark for points (93) and with seven games remaining, his 200-foot play has him on the periphery of the Hart Trophy conversation.

Winnipegger Mark Stone is having another fantastic season, with 19 goals and 66 points in 61 games and also helped Team Canada win a gold medal at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“He’s one of a big group of players who played the majority of their career when there was no best-on-best hockey,” said McCrimmon. “It was an honour for him and a thrill. It will be a tournament that every player will really remember as being special as part of their careers and proud to be a part of it.

“Mark acquitted himself really well. He was among the top-nine forwards every step of the way and showed the Canadian coaches all of the things that we know. He looks different than a lot of players, but he’s a really good player and a really effective player.”

AROUND THE GLASS

There has never been a season when all seven Canadian NHL clubs have made the playoffs. Nor has there been a campaign when six made the cut. The best we’ve seen so far is five, which last occurred in 2016-17 (Winnipeg and Vancouver missed out) and also in 2014-15 (Toronto and Edmonton didn’t get in).

In that sense, we could be on the cusp of some hockey history.

Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal would all be in the Sweet 16 if the playoffs began today. Calgary and Vancouver are the only Canadian teams on the outside looking in, and they are within striking distance of the final Western Conference wild-card spot held by the Minnesota Wild.

The Jets, Maple Leafs and Oilers all appear to be legitimate contenders, while the Senators and Canadiens are certainly feel-good stories as they exceed expectations. Could Lord Stanley finally get a postal code instead of a zip code for the first time since 1993? There’s definitely a good chance. (Much more so than the 2015-16 season when no Canadian teams made it).

We’re guessing the suits over at Rogers, who own the national broadcasting rights with Sportsnet, are popping bottles right now — and not just because they reached a 12-year contract extension with the league this week. Canadian teams drive their ratings, so the more the merrier.

That’s not the case south of the border, where some of the biggest American markets — New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Buffalo — could all be shut-out this spring.

---

It took longer than he no doubt expected, but Rutger McGroarty has scored his first NHL goal and recorded his first NHL assist. Both of them happened in the same game on Thursday night, as McGroarty set-up Bryan Rust for the opening tally in St. Louis, then notching the tying marker with 25 seconds left in regulation.

McGroarty, the disgruntled former Jets prospect who was traded last summer to the Penguins in exchange for Brayden Yager, got his wish when he opened the season on an NHL roster. But the forward was sent down to the American Hockey League after just three games to work on certain elements, particularly his skating and pace of play.

Things didn’t initially go very well in the minors as McGroarty recorded just one assist in his first eight games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. But he clearly got settled in and a lot more comfortable, recording 39 points (14G, 23A) over the next 47 contests.

McGroarty was called back up this past Sunday — his 21st birthday — with the Penguins well out of the Eastern Conference playoff race and looking to give some young skaters some experience. He’ll likely stay with the big club for the next two weeks before going back down to the farm for playoff action with the baby Penguins.

 

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg