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Brett Howden
Brett Howden
from Wikipedia

Brett Howden (born March 29, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Howden was drafted 27th overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Howden is a Stanley Cup champion, having won with the Golden Knights in 2023.

Key Information

Playing career

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Junior

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On June 25, 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Howden with the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft. In the season leading up to the NHL draft, Howden recorded 24 goals and 40 assists over 68 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Howden finished fourth on the team in goals and points, and also added four goals and 11 assists in 15 postseason games, which included four-straight multi-point games in the first round against the Prince Albert Raiders. In addition, Howden was named the Warriors' Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player during his rookie year in 2014–15. Howden has played two seasons with Lightning forward Brayden Point. Howden said that the team's familiarity with Point and their scouting of Moose Jaw played a role in their decision to select him. The team had spoken to Point about Howden leading up to the 2016 draft.[1]

On September 30, 2016, the Warriors named Howden the 31st captain in team history.[2] Howden previously served as alternate captain the previous season as a 17-year-old, and had also served as captain of Canada under-18 team, leading the team to a gold medal during the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.[2] Howden credited former Warriors captain, Point, with his growth as a leader on the team.[2]

On December 28, 2016, Howden signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[3]

Professional

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Howden with the Syracuse Crunch during the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs

After the Moose Jaw Warriors were eliminated from the 2017 WHL playoffs, Howden joined the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout (ATO) agreement.[4] On April 7, 2017, the Crunch's head coach, Benoit Groulx, announced that Howden would make his professional debut in a game against the Binghamton Senators.[5] On April 8, Howden scored his first professional goal in Crunch's 3–2 win against the Albany Devils.[6] On April 12, Howden recorded his first professional assist in a 7–2 win against the Utica Comets.[7]

On February 26, 2018, Howden was traded to the New York Rangers, along with Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hájek, and 2018 and 2019 draft picks, for Ryan McDonagh and J. T. Miller.[8]

Howden (left) battling for position against Tye Kartye of the Seattle Kraken during the 2024 Winter Classic.

On July 17, 2021, Howden was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fourth-round pick.[9] During the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, he contributed five goals and five assists as the Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup in team history.[10]

On November 22, 2024, during the 2024–25 season, and as a pending free agent, Howden signed a five-year extension with the Golden Knights, keeping him in Vegas through the 2029–30 season.[11]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 USA
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Switzerland
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2015 Břeclav/Bratislava

On October 20, 2016, the Western Hockey League (WHL) announced its Team WHL roster for the 2016 CIBC Canada/Russia Series, which named Howden as one of its 12 forwards.[12]

On November 29, 2016, Howden was announced as one of the Canada junior team invitees for the 2016 World Junior Championships training camp where Howden was joined by five other Lightning prospects.[13] On December 13, 2016, Howden was released from the training camp as part of the initial roster cuts.[14]

On December 6, 2017, Howden was named to the 2018 World Junior Championships selection camp roster.[15]

Personal life

[edit]

Howden's brother, Quinton, was selected 25th overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft by the Florida Panthers.[16]

Howden was one of 11 members involved in a group chat that discussed a 2018 incident, in which, a complainant, known as “E.M.”, alleged sexual assault by five members of the 2018 Canadian World Juniors team including Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, and Cal Foote. He testified in court as a witness present in the room when the alleged assault took place. No charges were brought against Howden.[17] During the trial, Howden took the stand and was accused of "feigned memory loss" by the Crown, after several inconsistencies between his current testimony and prior statements on record.[18]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 5 1 0 1 2
2014–15 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 68 22 24 46 24
2015–16 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 68 24 40 64 61 10 4 11 15 4
2016–17 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 58 38 43 81 73 7 2 1 3 12
2016–17 Syracuse Crunch AHL 5 3 1 4 2 3 0 2 2 0
2017–18 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 49 24 51 75 42 14 7 8 15 8
2018–19 New York Rangers NHL 66 6 17 23 14
2019–20 New York Rangers NHL 70 9 10 19 28 3 0 0 0 4
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 42 1 6 7 11
2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 47 9 11 20 12
2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 54 6 7 13 55 22 5 5 10 31
2023–24 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 72 8 11 19 39 7 1 1 2 0
2024–25 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 80 23 17 40 46 11 3 0 3 4
NHL totals 431 62 79 141 205 43 9 6 15 39

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Canada White U17 5th 5 2 1 3 4
2015 Canada U18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3 2 1 3 0
2015 Canada IH18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 0 1 1 4
2016 Canada U18 4th 6 5 3 8 8
2018 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 3 4 7 4
Junior totals 25 12 10 22 20

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year Ref
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2023 [19]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Brett Howden (born March 29, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 201 pounds, he shoots left-handed and was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Howden made his NHL debut with the Lightning's affiliate before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2018 as part of a package that included a first-round draft pick, and he joined the Golden Knights in April 2021 via another trade. With Vegas, he contributed to their 2023 Stanley Cup victory, recording 10 points in 22 playoff games during the championship run. Internationally, Howden has represented Canada at the junior level, securing a gold medal at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, a bronze at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, and a gold at the 2018 IIHF World Under-20 Championship. In November 2024, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Golden Knights, underscoring his role as a versatile, defensive-minded forward capable of contributing offensively in various line combinations.

Early life

Upbringing and family background

Brett Howden was born on March 29, 1998, in Oakbank, a small rural community in , . He grew up in a family deeply immersed in hockey, with his parents providing foundational support for his early involvement in the sport. His father, Sheldon Howden, and older brother, —born January 21, 1992, and later drafted into the NHL—served as key influences, emphasizing discipline and dedication through hands-on guidance rather than formal elite training programs. Howden's initial exposure to hockey occurred through local minor associations, including the Springfield Minor Hockey Association near Oakbank, where community rinks and family-driven practice sessions fostered fundamental skills in a low-pressure, self-directed environment. This setting, typical of Manitoba's rural hockey culture, relied on informal play and familial reinforcement to build resilience and , contrasting with urban centers' more structured pathways. The province's harsh winters and tight-knit communities further shaped early development, prioritizing endurance and incremental progress over immediate competitive intensity.

Junior career

Moose Jaw Warriors tenure

Brett Howden was selected fifth overall by the in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, following in the footsteps of his older brother Quinton, who had been chosen first overall by the same team six years earlier. He joined the Warriors for the 2014–15 season as a 16-year-old , appearing in 68 games and recording 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points, while accumulating 42 penalty minutes, establishing himself as a reliable two-way with emerging physical presence. In his draft-eligible 2015–16 season, Howden demonstrated significant progression, tallying 24 goals and 40 assists for 64 points in 68 games, a performance that highlighted his improved offensive output and playmaking ability alongside defensive reliability. That year, he earned a spot in the 2016 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game as a member of Team Orr, where scouts noted his heady approach, size at 6-foot-3, and multi-threat potential as a power center. Howden's game evolved to incorporate greater physicality, as he adopted a power forward style emphasizing forechecking, battles in high-traffic areas, and an added edge suited to playoff intensity, evidenced by his self-described affinity for the physical aspects of play and consistent penalty minutes reflecting competitive engagement. Howden assumed leadership responsibilities early, serving as an alternate captain during the 2015–16 season before being named the 31st captain in Warriors history on September 30, 2016, at age 18, a role that underscored his maturity, , and influence on teammates despite the pressures of high expectations from his draft pedigree. In the 2016–17 season, he captained the team while posting 31 goals and 51 assists for 82 points in 65 games, contributing to the Warriors' Eastern finals appearance and solidifying his reputation through verifiable metrics like point production per game (1.26) and plus-minus ratings that prioritized tangible contributions over speculative hype. His junior tenure with , spanning 248 games and 267 points (109 goals, 158 assists), provided a empirical foundation of skill development, from initial two-way competence to leadership-driven physical dominance, culminating in pre-draft evaluations that valued his 6-foot-3 frame, hockey IQ, and penalty-kill efficacy.

Professional career

New York Rangers

Brett Howden joined the as part of the February 26, 2018, trade that sent and to the , arriving alongside as a 2016 first-round draft pick (27th overall) with potential as a two-way center. He earned a spot on the Rangers' opening night roster for the 2018–19 season after impressing in training camp, bypassing significant time in the (AHL) with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he appeared in no regular-season games during his Rangers affiliation. Howden made his NHL debut on October 4, 2018, against the , logging limited minutes as a bottom-six forward focused on defensive responsibilities. Howden's playing style emphasized physicality and checking, leveraging his 6-foot-3 frame for effective forechecking and penalty killing, which aligned with the Rangers' rebuilding phase emphasizing youth and defensive structure. However, his offensive production remained modest, reflecting challenges in line chemistry and opportunity during the team's transitional roster; in 66 games during 2018–19, he recorded 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists), followed by 22 points in 70 games in 2019–20 and just 7 points in 42 games in 2020–21, averaging under 12 minutes of ice time per game across his tenure. These underwhelming statistics, despite early promise with 13 points in the first 25 games of 2018–19, highlighted causal factors such as inconsistent top-six pairings and the Rangers' overall low scoring output in a rebuild devoid of elite playmakers. On July 17, 2021, the Rangers traded Howden to the in exchange for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a fourth-round draft pick, a move that reset his career trajectory amid ongoing struggles for consistent NHL impact in New York. Over three seasons with the Rangers, Howden accumulated 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 178 games, primarily as a checking-line contributor whose physical attributes did not translate to transformative production.

Vegas Golden Knights

Following his acquisition by the in a 2019 trade, Brett Howden gradually expanded his role within the organization, transitioning from limited bottom-six minutes to a more versatile contributor amid the team's competitive push. This adaptation culminated in the , where he recorded 10 points (5 goals and 5 assists) over 22 games, supporting Vegas' first championship victory on June 13, 2023. In the 2024-25 season, Howden achieved a career-high performance with 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points in 80 games, demonstrating improved offensive output while maintaining defensive reliability evidenced by a +17 plus-minus rating. His versatility as a "Swiss Army knife" player was highlighted by deployments across 29 different lines, frequent penalty-kill duties, and strong faceoff work, underscoring his adaptability in high-pressure scenarios over pure scoring emphasis. Howden's playoff contributions extended beyond the 2023 run, with consistent defensive stability aiding Vegas' postseason efforts, as his multi-role usage prioritized team structure and wins (often above 50% in key matchups) rather than individual flash. This empirical value was affirmed by a five-year contract extension signed on November 22, 2024, worth $12.5 million at an average annual value of $2.5 million, securing his presence through the 2029-30 season.

International career

World Junior Championships

Brett Howden represented at the 2018 IIHF World Under-20 Championship in , where he contributed as a forward on the gold medal-winning . Selected for the roster following a December 2017 evaluation camp, Howden appeared in all seven tournament games, registering 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points alongside 4 penalty minutes and a +9 plus-minus rating. His scoring included a two-goal performance in a preliminary round victory over on December 29, 2017, helping secure first place in Group B with a 7-1 win. Howden's play emphasized reliable two-way contributions, aligning with 's balanced offensive approach that outscored opponents 37-10 en route to the title. In the gold medal game against on January 5, 2018, prevailed 3-1, with Howden's earlier tournament output supporting the team's depth scoring from forwards, where he ranked prominently with his totals. His +9 rating reflected strong defensive positioning during high-stakes matches, including the semifinal overtime win over the . The tournament performance bolstered evaluations of Howden's professional potential, showcasing tenacity and hockey sense that complemented his 6-foot-3 frame, as observed in post-event prospect assessments. Already drafted 27th overall by the in 2016, his role in the championship elevated perceptions of his NHL transition readiness, highlighting character-driven play over pure offensive flash.

Other youth international tournaments

Howden first gained international youth experience with Canada White at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sarnia-Lambton, , scoring two goals—including the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory over Canada Red—to help secure fifth place overall. In April 2015, he was added as an under-age forward to Canada's roster for the IIHF World U18 Championships in and , , where the team defeated 3-0 in the bronze medal game after semifinal and quarterfinal wins. That summer, captained Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in and , registering 0 goals and 1 assist over 5 games while leading the squad to an eighth consecutive , capped by a 7-3 final win over on 15. Howden returned as a full-age player for at the 2016 IIHF U18 Championships in , accumulating points through goals and assists that highlighted his two-way play and decision-making against global competition.

Involvement in 2018 Hockey Canada scandal

Context of the allegations

The alleged incident occurred on June 19, 2018, in , following a Foundation Awards gala celebrating Canada's gold medal victory at the 2018 IIHF World Under-20 Championship earlier that year. Members of the national junior team, including several NHL prospects, attended the event and later gathered at a local bar before returning to a hotel, where a woman in her early 20s met some players and accompanied them to a room. The complainant initially alleged non-consensual sexual activity involving up to eight players, prompting to conduct an internal investigation that concluded with no finding of assault and the case closed by mid-2019. In May 2022, settled a civil with the complainant for approximately $3.55 million CAD, drawing from a secret national team fund originally intended for junior player claims but expanded to cover such settlements without public disclosure. This revelation, reported by journalists, exposed systemic issues in handling allegations within the organization, including the use of player registration fees to replenish the fund, leading to widespread scrutiny, sponsor withdrawals, and a parliamentary inquiry in 2022. police, having dropped their initial probe in 2019 due to insufficient evidence, reopened the in July 2022 amid public pressure and new details from the civil settlement. The case centered on five charged players—Michael McLeod, , , , and —who surrendered to authorities in February 2024 after indictments were issued. Trial proceedings in , commencing in April 2025 after delays, highlighted conflicting accounts: the complainant's of incapacity and contrasted with forensic evidence, including bar videos depicting mutual interactions, hotel hallway footage, post-incident text messages suggesting amicability, and witness statements describing the encounter as consensual group activity amid post-victory festivities. Other team members, not facing charges, provided contextual on the celebratory atmosphere without direct involvement in the room.

Testimony and key observations

Brett Howden testified as a in the May 2025 sexual assault trial of five former 2018 World Junior teammates in , describing his direct observations of the complainant's interactions in a hotel room on June 19, 2018. He recounted the complainant, E.M., acting flirtatiously at Jack's bar earlier that evening, initiating contact by dancing and leading toward a bathroom while Formenton sought verbal confirmation on proceeding. Howden stated he observed her taunting players who declined her advances and initiating sexual acts without apparent , asserting in that "nobody forced her to do anything" and viewing her participation as voluntary based on these empirics. During his account of the events, described hearing—but not witnessing—a sound consistent with slapping E.M.'s buttocks, which prompted his discomfort and decision to leave the room prematurely. He contextualized a June 26, 2018, text message to teammate , in which he wrote of seeing Dubé "smacking this girl’s ass so hard" and that it "looked like it hurt so bad," as a non-oath recollection made amid emerging awareness of the investigation, emphasizing he had "no reason to lie" at the time but lacked intent for factual precision under stress. Justice Maria Carroccia ruled the text inadmissible as , citing its unreliability due to Howden's reported nervousness and fear, though she permitted related testimony. Under , Howden experienced an emotional breakdown, tearing up while discussing the personal toll of recounting events to his family, including his father and then-girlfriend (now wife), and expressing fear over the investigation's implications. Prosecutors challenged over 15 perceived inconsistencies between his and prior 2018-2022 statements to investigators, particularly on memory lapses regarding timelines, clothing, and specific reactions, which Howden attributed to the seven-year gap and lack of refreshed recall from transcripts or texts. The judge rejected applications to deem these lapses feigned, finding no basis to question the authenticity of his non-recall and upholding his overall credibility on observed voluntary dynamics, countering suggestions of fabricated forgetfulness.

Personal life

Family and post-career interests

Brett Howden was born on March 29, 1998, in , to parents Sheldon and Krystal Howden, maintaining strong ties to his family's rural Canadian roots despite his professional relocation. His older brother, , born January 21, 1992, in the same community, pursued a similar path as a professional hockey player, including NHL stints with teams like the and providing early mentorship to Brett in competitive youth leagues. The siblings' shared upbringing in Oakbank fostered a grounded, hockey-centric family dynamic, with Brett crediting Quinton for preparing him for professional challenges. Howden married Meike Howden, a originally from , and the couple welcomed their son, Charlie, on April 13, 2023, alongside their dog as part of their household. Following his 2019 trade to the , Howden established residence in the Las Vegas area, describing the city as feeling like home for his growing family and expressing commitment through a five-year extension signed in 2024. This stability reflects a prioritization of family life amid career demands, with occasional returns to Oakbank underscoring enduring connections. Public details on Howden's off-ice interests remain limited, consistent with his emphasis on and professional focus over personal publicity. No prominent involvement in or non-hockey pursuits has been documented, aligning with a lifestyle shaped by family priorities and his Manitoba-influenced low-key demeanor rather than high-profile endeavors.

Career statistics

NHL regular season and playoffs

Brett Howden debuted in the NHL with the during the 2018–19 season, appearing in 66 games and recording 6 goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 74 shots on goal and 64 hits. Over his first three seasons with the Rangers (2018–21), he played 178 games, tallying 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points, with a minus-29 rating and 171 shots on goal. Traded to the in July 2021, Howden's production improved in a bottom-six role, accumulating 46 goals and 46 assists for 92 points in 253 games through the 2024–25 season, including a career-high 23 goals on 125 shots (18.4 shooting percentage) and a plus-17 rating in 80 games during 2024–25, alongside 121 hits and 56 blocked shots.
SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM+/-SOG
2018–19NYR666172314-1674
2019–20NYR709101928-1164
2020–21NYR4216711-233
2021–22VGK479112012939
2022–23VGK54671355553
2023–24VGK728111939-1176
2024–25VGK802317404617125
Howden has appeared in 43 playoff games across four postseasons, scoring 9 goals and 6 assists for 15 points, with 39 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating. In the 2022–23 , he contributed 5 goals and 5 assists in 22 games, including key scoring in the Western Conference Final and Final, helping Vegas secure the championship with 107 regular-season hits translating to physical play in postseason. The 2023–24 playoffs saw limited output in 7 games (1 goal, 1 assist), while in 2024–25, he recorded 3 goals in 11 games before Vegas' elimination.
PostseasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2019–20NYR30004-3
2022–23VGK225510314
2023–24VGK711201
2024–25VGK113034-2

International competitions

Howden participated in the in , where secured gold; he recorded 5 games played (GP), 0 goals (G), 1 assist (A), 1 point (P), and 31 penalty minutes (PIM). At the , won bronze, with Howden contributing in 3 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, and 0 PIM. In the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship, where placed fourth, he tallied 6 GP, 5 G, 3 A, 8 P, +8 plus-minus (+/-), and 2 PIM. Howden's most prominent youth international performance came at the 2018 IIHF World U20 Championship, contributing to 's gold medal victory with 7 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P, +4 +/-, and 9 PIM.
TournamentYearGPGAP+/-PIMMedal
2015501131Gold
IIHF U18 World Championship201532130Bronze
IIHF U18 World Championship20166538+82None
IIHF U20 World Championship20187347+49Gold

Awards and achievements

Team honors

Howden contributed to the ' first championship in franchise history on June 13, 2023, defeating the 9-3 in Game 5 of the Final; as an since 2017, Vegas relied on depth forwards like Howden, who logged minutes across multiple lines in 22 playoff appearances, including a top-nine role alongside captain and All-Star . At the 2018 in , Howden helped claim gold on January 5, 2018, with a 3-1 victory over in the final; he recorded 3 goals and 4 assists in 7 games, supporting the team's offensive depth during the tournament. Howden was a member of 's gold medal-winning squad at the 2016 (also known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament) in and , where the team defeated the 4-3 in overtime in the championship game on August 15, 2016; his participation bolstered 's under-18 success in the annual invitational event featuring top junior prospects.

Individual recognitions

Howden was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft after posting 64 points in 68 games with the of the during the 2015–16 season. He earned an invitation to the 2016 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, where he represented Team Orr alongside other top draft-eligible juniors, highlighting his status as a consensus prospect with strong two-way play and leadership qualities. Internationally, Howden was recognized as one of Canada's top three players on the team at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, where he contributed to the effort with three goals and four assists in seven games. In November 2024, following a strong start to the 2024–25 season that included leading the NHL in faceoff wins early on, Howden signed a five-year contract extension with the worth $12.5 million (average annual value of $2.5 million), underscoring his reliability as a bottom-six excelling in defensive-zone starts, penalty killing, and faceoff duties (winning 58.1% of draws in 2023–24). No major WHL individual trophies or NHL All-Star selections have been awarded to Howden, with his contributions emphasizing consistent performance over highlight-reel accolades.

References

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