Golden Knights, Howden avoid arbitration with 2-year contract

The Vegas Golden Knights avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent forward Brett Howden by inking him to a two-year pact with an average annual value of $1.9 million, the team announced Wednesday.

Howden's hearing was set for July 24. He potted six goals and seven assists in 54 regular-season games this past season - his second with Vegas.

The 25-year-old added five tallies and 10 points in 22 playoff contests to help the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.

Howden amassed 31 goals and 51 helpers in 279 NHL games spent with the New York Rangers and Golden Knights.

Vegas acquired him from the Rangers in July 2021 in exchange for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fourth-round pick.

The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Howden 27th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft.

The Golden Knights also penned Pavel Dorofeyev - their sole remaining restricted free agent - to a one-year pact worth $825,000 on Wednesday.

After those signings, Vegas is approximately $4.15 million over the cap, but the Knights will be cap compliant if goaltender Robin Lehner and his $5-million cap hit are on long-term injured reserve to start the campaign.

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