Nation Network Prospect Profiles: #35 Brett Howden
7 years ago
The 18-year-old centre Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors checks in at 35th on the Nation Network prospect rankings. Howden brings a 200-foot game to the table and has exceptional play-making abilities to boot.Take a look and see what the 2016 eligible draftee has to offer.
BIO
- Age: 18, 1998-03-29
- Birthplace: Oakbank, MB, CAN
- Frame: 6’2″ 192 lbs.
- Position: C
- Handedness: L
- Draft Year Team: Moose Jaw Warriors
- Accomplishments/Awards: 2015/16 CHL Top Prospects Game, 2015/16 Hlinka Memorial Gold Medal, U18 WJC Top 3 Player on Team
STATS
| pGPS n | pGPS s | pGPS % | pGPS P/GP | pGPS R |
| 60 | 19 | 31.67 | 0.4756 | 0.1506 |
SCOUTS
| NHL CSS | ISS | Future Considerations | Hockey Prospect | McKeen’s | Button |
| 22 (NA) | 20 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 45 |
Howden is that big bodied two-way forward who desires to impact the game in all aspects. He is a leader and will stand up for his teammates and although he is not a fighter he does play with a feisty edge. He battles for pucks in the corners and is always buzzing around the net looking to bang in a goal. He skates well for a bigger guy and shows impressive playmaking ability. He reads the play well and has a good sense of the game. Plays with a high effort level and leads by example.
“A two-way forward who uses his large frame to his advantage standing in front of the net screening the goalie and collecting rebounds. Will battle hard in front and in the corners with a real physical edge. He won’t drop the gloves but plays a game that suits his size. Has a real long reach that he uses to protect the puck. Has shown much improved play in the defensive zone over the season and is a real mature puck distributor. Skating needs some work and he needs to remember to keep his feet moving away from the puck.”
Our Take
Brett Howden is the younger brother of Quinton Howden, a first round pick of the Florida Panthers. His family has a hockey pedigree and looks like he has the ability to follow.
Howden has a large frame, which he uses in corner battles against posing players. He needs to increase his strength to compete against the bigger players at the NHL level, if his game is going to translate to the NHL.
Brett Howden has two full seasons of WHL action under his belt. His rookie season saw him score 22 goals and 24 assists. During his second full season with the Warriors, Howden’s play-making ability emerged as he scored 26 goals and 40 assists.
19 similar players to Howden have played 200 or more games in the NHL. As well, there have been 60 statistically similar seasons to what Howden has had by other players. The PGPS has the young centre at a 31.67% chance of making the NHL.
So what does this mean?
Howden is your typical high second round pick. There is little risk in taking him because what you see is what you get. He has the 200 foot game that coaches covet and as a centre, Howden can potentially be used as a defensive specialist.
The reward for teams is if Howden can translate his game to the NHL level, he can be a good two-way centre with exceptional play-making abilities. When it comes to scoring, you will find him taking the puck to the net, looking for a scrappy goal.
Howden looks to be a good pick for teams in need of centre depth and are drafting late in the first round or early second round of the 2016 draft.
2016 NATION NETWORK DRAFT PROSPECT PROFILES
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