Brett Howden Bio
Brett Howden is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on March 29, 1998, in Oakbank, Manitoba, Howden came into the league as a first-round selection, taken 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has developed into a dependable two-way centre, earning his biggest career honour as a Stanley Cup champion with the Golden Knights in 2023.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and playing at roughly 193 pounds, Howden skates as a left-handed centre. He began his professional career in 2017 and has since become known for his responsible defensive play and growing offensive contributions in the bottom-six forward group.
Early Life and Background
Brett Howden was born on March 29, 1998, in Oakbank, a small community in Manitoba, Canada. Growing up in a hockey-passionate region, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and progressed through local youth programs before reaching major junior eligibility. His family background includes a notable hockey connection, as his older brother Quinton was selected 25th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers, giving Brett an early example of a professional pathway.
Howden joined the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and quickly stood out for his mature approach to the game. During his rookie WHL season in 2014-15, he was named the Warriors’ Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player, signalling a player who combined production with discipline. He also captained Canada at the under-18 level, leading the team to a gold medal at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, an experience that helped prepare him for higher-level competition.
Path to Professional Hockey
Howden’s draft year with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2015-16 cemented his status as a top prospect. He recorded 24 goals and 40 assists over 68 games, finishing fourth on the team in both categories, and added four goals and 11 assists in 15 postseason games, including four consecutive multi-point performances in the first round against the Prince Albert Raiders. On June 25, 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him 27th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Lightning scouts were already familiar with Howden from his time in Moose Jaw, partly through forward Brayden Point, a former Warriors captain who had joined Tampa Bay. On September 30, 2016, the Warriors named Howden the 31st captain in franchise history, having previously served as an alternate captain at age 17. On December 28, 2016, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, formally beginning his professional pathway.
Brett Howden Career
Early Career (2017)
After the Moose Jaw Warriors were eliminated from the 2017 WHL playoffs, Howden joined the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay’s American Hockey League affiliate, on an amateur tryout agreement. On April 7, 2017, Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx announced that Howden would make his professional debut against the Binghamton Senators. The following night, April 8, Howden 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.
The brief AHL stint gave Howden a glimpse of the professional game before his name surfaced in an NHL trade. On February 26, 2018, he was dealt to the New York Rangers, along with Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hájek, and 2018 and 2019 draft picks, in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J. T. Miller, marking the start of his full-time NHL career.
New York Rangers Era (2018-2021)
Howden arrived in New York as a young two-way centre expected to grow into a checking-line role. He spent parts of three seasons with the Rangers organization, suiting up in the NHL while also seeing time with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL. His time in New York provided regular NHL ice time and exposure to the demands of playing in a major market, including playoff hockey.
Although offensive totals were modest during his Rangers tenure, Howden earned a reputation for penalty killing, faceoff reliability, and responsible defensive zone coverage. The organization continued to view him as a developing middle-six option, but on July 17, 2021, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fourth-round pick, opening the next chapter of his career.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2021-Present)
Joining the Golden Knights gave Howden a clear role on a contending roster, and he settled into a bottom-six centre position that emphasized his strengths. During the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he produced five goals and five assists as the Golden Knights captured their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, earning Howden his name on the trophy as an NHL champion.
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. The deal signalled the organization’s confidence in his continued growth as a depth forward who can contribute offensively when needed.
Driving Style and Strengths
Howden is recognized as a defensively responsible centre with strong faceoff numbers and reliable penalty-killing habits. His 6-foot-3 frame, left-handed shot, and willingness to play a physical, north-south game make him an ideal match for a bottom-six checking role, while his skating and improving offensive touch have allowed him to chip in goals and assists when deployed in offensive situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Howden’s signature career moment came during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where his five-goal, five-assist contribution helped the Vegas Golden Knights win their first championship. Other milestones include being named the 31st captain in Moose Jaw Warriors history and skating in the 2016 CIBC Canada/Russia Series as a Team WHL forward.
Brett Howden Career Wins
Brett Howden’s most significant team victory is the 2023 Stanley Cup, won as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. Beyond that championship, his career has been built on consistent contributions in supporting roles rather than headline-grabbing individual awards.
NHL and Championship Highlights
Howden’s NHL resume includes stops with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, the New York Rangers, and the Vegas Golden Knights. His most decorated season came in 2022-23, when his playoff performance helped deliver the Stanley Cup to Vegas and established him as a trusted contributor in high-pressure moments.
Junior and International Performances
With the Moose Jaw Warriors, Howden served as captain and produced strong regular-season and playoff numbers, including a deep 2016 WHL postseason run. Internationally, he captained Canada to gold at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and represented Team WHL in the 2016 CIBC Canada/Russia Series, while also attending selection camps for the World Junior Championships.
Brett Howden Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Howden family. Brett’s older brother, Quinton Howden, was selected 25th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers and went on to play professionally, providing Brett with an early model of how to pursue a career in the sport.
Personal Life
Brett Howden was one of 11 members of a group chat that discussed a 2018 incident involving members of the 2018 Canadian World Juniors team. He testified as a witness present in the room during the alleged incident, but no charges were brought against him. He currently resides in the Las Vegas area while playing for the Golden Knights.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NHL season marks Brett Howden’s first year under his new five-year contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights, signed on November 22, 2024. Locked in as a bottom-six centre, he has continued to handle penalty-killing duties and important faceoff assignments while contributing secondary scoring when given offensive-zone opportunities.
Howden’s role within the Golden Knights’ forward group remains tied to his two-way reliability, with the coaching staff relying on him to stabilize matchups against opposing teams’ top lines. His postseason pedigree from the 2023 Stanley Cup run gives him valuable experience heading into any potential 2025 playoff push.
Looking ahead, Howden is positioned as a steady depth contributor for a perennial Western Conference contender. With multiple seasons remaining on his contract, his long-term outlook in Vegas depends on maintaining his defensive identity while continuing to chip in offensively, the formula that has defined his role since arriving in the desert.
