Jimmy Howard
A homegrown Detroit Red Wings stalwart who anchored the net for over a decade, becoming a beloved face of the franchise's modern era.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: March 26·Millennials
Biography
Jimmy Howard's hockey story is one of patience and resilience. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 2003, he honed his craft in the minors while the big club was stocked with veteran talent. When his chance finally came in 2009, he seized it, quickly establishing himself as the team's number-one goaltender. Howard's calm, positional style and competitive fire made him a rock during a transitional period for the Wings, bridging the gap between the dynasty years and a new generation. He backstopped the team to multiple playoff appearances, earning an All-Star nod in 2019. After retiring in 2021, he seamlessly transitioned to a broadcasting role, offering insightful analysis for the same franchise he dedicated his playing career to, his voice now familiar to the fans who once cheered his saves.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jimmy was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jimmy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played his entire 14-season NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, appearing in 543 games.
- Was selected to represent the Atlantic Division in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game.
- Recorded 246 career wins, placing him third on the Red Wings' all-time list for goaltenders.
- Posted a career-best 2.13 goals-against average during the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season.
Did You Know?
He was a standout baseball pitcher in high school and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2001 MLB draft.
Howard's father was a goaltender for the University of Maine.
He won the AHL's Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the league's top goaltender in 2009 while playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
“You have to be a little bit crazy to stand in front of a puck shot that hard.”
