I'm curious on others' takes on a guy like Harry Howell. Solid play for a very long time, one year where he really stood out, and he played on some pretty bad teams in New York.
From Billyshoe Bio:
1,411 career NHL games(most by a defenseman at time of retirement)
1x 1st-Team NHL All Star
7x NHL All Star Game Participant(all merit based)
5th Hart Trophy Voting(66-67)
6x Top 10 Norris Trophy voting(
1, 5, 6, 6, 9, 9)
2x Top 11 All Star Selection(6, 11)
12x Top 15 Goals Among Defensemen(4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7, 9, 9, 11, 13, 13, 13)
9x Top 15 Assists Among Defensemen(3, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11, 14)
9x Top 15 Points Among Defensemen(3, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 12, 13, 14)
Hockey Hall of Fame Member
Captain New York Rangers, 1955-1957
Number retired by Rangers
Henry Vernon Howell, known by everybody as Harry, had
played more games than any defenseman in major-league hockey history by the time he retired, though he never won the Stanley Cup. Howell played in a total of 1,581 contests, 1,411 in the NHL and 170 in the World Hockey Association. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1932, Howell was known as
a dedicated, dependable player on the ice and a classy guy off it.
Howell started playing junior hockey for the Guelph Biltmores and his professional career began in 1952 with the New York Rangers. He quickly
gained a reputation as a durable, dependable "iron man" and, amazingly, missed only 17 games in his first 16 seasons as a Ranger. Howell's best season was in 1966-67 when he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman.
Here is an interesting trivia question. Who was the last player in to win the Norris Trophy as best defenseman before the arrival and subsequent dominance of the trophy by Bobby Orr?
The answer: Harry Howell.
It could be said that
Howell was the last defensive defenseman to win the trophy, as the award took on a different definition after Bobby Orr.
Harry Howell played 24 NHL seasons and three more in the WHA. When he retired no defenseman had played more big league games than
the ironman Howell.
Ironman would be an appropriate nickname for the man who never played for a Stanley Cup winner. In his first 16 NHL seasons he missed an amazingly minuscule total of just 17 games.
Although not an overly aggressive rearguard he
used his hockey sense to become an extremely effective defensive player. He was quite the
unsung hero, buried with the largely unsuccessful Rangers. It was
rare that he was rightfully recognized as one of hockey's top players. In fact it was not until 1966-67, his 15th year in the league, that he was honored with the Norris trophy as the league's best defenseman and with all star status.
Although not regarded as an offensive threat by today's standards, Howell was
a slick passer who always made the safe play. He was a reliable work horse who could always be counted on to bring his steady game every night of the week. A
master of the poke check, his understated brilliance was certainly appreciated by his coaches and teammates, especially his goaltenders. He
always was able to steer oncoming attackers to the boards and away from scoring spots.
Howell was all too happy to play in the shadows of more popular defense partners. His most notable co-workers were the xxx, a Manhattan fan favorite, and Doug Harvey, to that time the greatest defenseman of all.
and They don't come much better than Harry," Harvey said soon after joining the Rangers.
"The thing that makes him the great hockey player he is," Emile Francis once said "is that
the quality of his game seldom varies. Some defensemen, they look like all-stars one night, or maybe for three games in a row, and then they tail off.
But Harry, he's like the Rock of Gibraltar."
Francis added "
Hockey is a game of mistakes, and Harry doesn't make many of them
No one in Rangers history has worn the Blueshirt as many times as Harry Howell. Not many have worn it as well, either. For 17 seasons and 1,160 games, Howell was Mr. Reliable on the Rangers' blueline.
Howell continued to provide the Rangers with solid play on the blueline, nothing flashy, but consistent and productive.
Howell kept himself in excellent shape. Rookie Tony Featherstone remembered that the 38-year-old Howell "had a physique that was just amazing. He was the fittest guy I ever met. He was a solid guy, a tough guy."
"He was a great veteran. I always wondered what was so great about him, but you had to play with him to see what a great skater he was. He had class. We all looked up to him. He was a smooth skater and a great guy on and off the ice.
"They don't come any better than him. He could cover the ice and cut the time in half." That was Harry Howell: classy, consistent, and a leader.
Unlike most players, Howell seemed to get better with age.
Harry Howell,
one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL...
Gadsby is a good offensive defenseman, Muzz said. "But
the key man on our defense is Harry Howell. He's the solid guy.
