Brett Howden
Canadian centre who won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023.
Brett Howden is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. Born on March 29, 1998, he was selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Howden became a Stanley Cup champion when the Golden Knights won the title in 2023.
In junior hockey, Howden played for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL). During the 2015–16 season, he scored 24 goals and added 40 assists in 68 games, finishing fourth on the team in both categories. In the postseason, he recorded four goals and 11 assists over 15 games, including four straight multi-point performances in the first round against the Prince Albert Raiders. In his rookie season (2014–15), he was named the Warriors' Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player. Howden played two seasons alongside Lightning forward Brayden Point, and the team’s familiarity with Point and their scouting of Moose Jaw influenced their decision to draft him. The Lightning had spoken to Point about Howden before the 2016 draft.
On September 30, 2016, Howden was named the 31st captain in Warriors history, having served as an alternate captain the previous season at age 17. He had also captained Canada’s under-18 team to a gold medal at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Howden credited former Warriors captain Point for helping him grow as a leader. On December 28, 2016, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Tampa Bay.
After Moose Jaw was eliminated from the 2017 WHL playoffs, Howden joined the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL on an amateur tryout. He made his professional debut on April 7, 2017, against the Binghamton Senators. The next day, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–2 win over the Albany Devils, and on April 12, he recorded his first professional assist in a 7–2 victory against the Utica Comets.
On February 26, 2018, Howden was traded to the New York Rangers along with Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hájek, and draft picks in 2018 and 2019, in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J. T. Miller. On July 17, 2021, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fourth-round pick. During the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, he contributed five goals and five assists as Vegas won its first championship.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1998-03-29
- Birth Place
- Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 201
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Former Teams
- New York Rangers
- Draft
- 27th overall
- Draft Year
- 2016
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Howden played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he recorded 24 goals and 40 assists over 68 games in the season leading up to the 2016 NHL draft. He was named the Warriors' Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player during his rookie year in 2014–15. On September 30, 2016, the Warriors named Howden the 31st captain in team history; he had previously served as alternate captain and as captain of Canada's under-18 team that won gold at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Howden credited former Warriors captain Brayden Point with his growth as a leader.
Professionally, Howden began with the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout after the Warriors' 2017 WHL playoffs ended, scoring his first professional goal on April 8, 2017. He was traded to the New York Rangers on February 26, 2018, as part of a multi-player deal, and later to the Vegas Golden Knights on July 17, 2021. During the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, he contributed five goals and five assists as the Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup. On November 22, 2024, he signed a five-year extension with Vegas.
Howden was one of 11 members involved in a group chat discussing a 2018 incident of alleged sexual assault by five members of the 2018 Canadian World Juniors team. He testified in court as a witness present in the room when the alleged assault took place; no charges were brought against him. The trial judge ruled there was no basis to conclude that Howden had been untruthful about his lack of memory.
Reader's Guide
Brett Howden's significance lies in his role as a reliable centre who contributed to the Vegas Golden Knights' first Stanley Cup championship in 2023. Drafted 27th overall by Tampa Bay in 2016, he developed through the WHL as captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors, drawing on leadership experience from his time with Canada's under-18 team. His professional journey included stops with the Syracuse Crunch, a trade to the New York Rangers, and ultimately a move to Vegas in 2021. Howden's playoff performance in 2023—five goals and five assists—helped secure the franchise's historic title. His five-year contract extension in November 2024, signed as a pending free agent, underscores his long-term value to the organization. Off the ice, Howden was a witness in a high-profile legal case involving alleged sexual assault by former Canadian junior teammates; he testified but faced no charges, and the judge found no basis to deem him untruthful. His career reflects steady progression from junior standout to NHL champion.
Did You Know?
- Howden was drafted 27th overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- He was named captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors on September 30, 2016.
- Howden won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
- His brother Quinton was selected 25th overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft by the Florida Panthers.
More in Vegas Golden Knights Players 1-24
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