Red Wings' Howard: 'I can be a lot better'

Jimmy Howard is the first to admit that by anyone's standard, 2013-14 was not a great year for the Detroit Red Wings goalie. 

“By no means was it a good season,” Howard told The Detroit News. “I can be a lot better, a lot more consistent.” 

The 30-year-old described his performance as "OK," adding he needs to be "better across the board."

Howard - in the first season of a six-year, $31.75-million contract - appeared in 50 games for the Red Wings, posting a record of 21-19-11, with two shutouts and a .910 save percentage (ranking him 23rd among goalies with 41+ games played). That mark was down from his career save percentage of .917.

Howard did bounce back with a .931 mark in the playoffs, but missed the last two games of the series loss to the Boston Bruins with the flu.

Still, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock indicated Howard will be counted on to start somewhere around 60 games in 2014-15, and his numbers will indeed need to be up in order for Detroit to rise the ranks of the Atlantic Division.