Jimmy Howard was all of 10 years old when Keith Primeau had his best season in a Detroit Red Wings uniform, scoring 31 goals and 73 points in 1993-94.
Twelve years later, Howard made his NHL debut as a Red Wing and went on to play three more games last season, while Primeau sat in limbo following a severe concussion suffered in October 2005.
Keith Primeau collected 266 goals, 619 points and multiple head injuries in 15 NHL seasons.
(Matt Rourke/Associated Press)
Howard will make his fifth appearance in the Detroit net Monday night but not before the Philadelphia Flyers — Primeau's last NHL team — recognize their former captain, who was forced to retire last September.
To this day, Primeau, 35, suffers from post-concussion syndrome.
"I still have problems," he told reporters during a conference call on Sunday. "The most severe symptoms are the head pressure and headaches.
"Flying is a problem for me. I've flown home to Toronto a few times with little effect, but whenever I take a longer flight … that has really put me on my heels."
Primeau, who played the final six years of his career in Philadelphia, was a first-round pick — third overall — of the Red Wings in the 1990 draft.
The six-foot-five centre had 266 goals, 619 points and multiple head injuries in 15 NHL seasons.
Primeau sustained no less than four concussions in five-plus seasons as a Flyer alone, the most regrettable in May 2000 when he was decked by Pittsburgh defenceman Bob Boughner 18 seconds into a playoff game.
"I should have made a wiser decision and stayed off and not played," said Primeau, who excelled that post-season with 13 points in 18 contests.
He posted one goal and seven points in nine games prior to being injured last season and reportedly was baffled when the Flyers informed them they would honour him Monday.
"I was a little confused because I have a hard time understanding that I deserve it. I appreciate it and I'm honoured."
His former teammates can only hope his presence serves as motivation as they attempt to build on their first home win in more than two months.
A horrific 4-15-7 as the host club this year, the Flyers snapped a franchise-record 13-game home losing streak Saturday with a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. It was the first victory in Philadelphia for the Flyers since they beat Columbus on Nov. 24.
Simon Gagne led the way with two goals, while Jeff Carter and Mike Richards also scored for the last-place Flyers (14-33-8), who have earned points in six of their last seven games (3-1-3).
Meanwhile, Detroit (36-15-6) has won six of its past seven to close to within a point of the Western Conference-leading Nashville Predators.
The Red Wings outlasted Calgary 7-4 on Sunday, thanks in large part to Henrik Zetterberg's two-goal, two-assist performance.
Howard, who was called up from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League to back up Joey MacDonald, is coming off a 4-0 win over the Iowa Stars on Friday.
The Wings are waiting out injuries to starter Dominik Hasek (wrist inflammation) and Chris Osgood (finger). Hasek, who didn't make the trip to Philadelphia, is expected to join the team on Wednesday for the four-day trip to Dallas and Phoenix.
