Jimmy Howard made the expected official Thursday and announced his retirement.
For his Red Wings teammates, and coach Jeff Blashill, it was the official end to one of the team's most competitive players over a successful 14-year career.
“Really competitive, and a big-time winner,” Blashill said after Thursday's morning skate in Dallas, during a Zoom media call. “He worked hard at his craft. He had a great early part of his career, and he worked with our goalie coaches to change his game so he could adapt because he wanted to be great.
“It just shows the competitiveness and the work ethic toward being great at his craft.