New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Brett Howden on a one-year contract.
New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury agreed to terms with Brett Howden on a one-year, $885,00 one-way contract.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with restricted free agent Brett Howden. pic.twitter.com/MRk4TcPmwv
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 9, 2021
Howden, 23, skated in 42 games with the Rangers this past season, registering one goal and six assists for seven points, along with 11 penalty minutes. The 6-3, 200-pounder has skated in 178 career NHL games over three seasons (2018-19 – 2020-21), all with the Rangers, registering 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points, along with 53 penalty minutes. Howden also skated in three games during the 2020 postseason.
The Calgary, Alberta native was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with Tampa Bay on February 26, 2018. Howden was originally selected by the Lightning in the first round, 27th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
The signing now gives the Rangers another option to protect for the NHL Expansion Draft, which will be held on July 21 in Seattle.
With the signing, Drury can choose to protect Colin Blackwell and expose Howden, something the Rangers could not consider prior due to the draft rules the NHL announced earlier this year.
Teams must submit their protected player’s list by July 17th, and that list will be announced on July 18.