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Mark Howe enters his 12th year as part of the Wings' front office team and his 15th season overall with the organization. After ending his hockey career as an NHL defenseman on September 28, 1995, Howe joined the Red Wings' front office as an assistant to the hockey department. In that capacity, he began scouting at the IHL and AHL levels. However, his energies were primarily focused on preparing promising young defensemen for the NHL at the club's American Hockey League affiliate.
Howe repeated family history as his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup as the club's pro scout for the back-to-back championship seasons in 1997 and '98. Mark's father, Gordie, played for Detroit's last back-to-back title teams in 1954 and '55. Gordie Howe was a member of four Stanley Cup teams in Detroit, and Mark is slowly catching up to his famous father in engraves as his name has appeared three times as a member of Detroit's 2002 championship team.
Ironically, another Howe of no relation to Mark and his dad, Syd Howe was with the club for its first three championships, meaning the Red Wings have never won a Stanley Cup without a Howe.
On July 8, 1992, Mark Howe returned to Detroit when he signed as a free-agent. He played in 122 regular-season games in three season with the Red Wings, collecting eight goals and 56 assists.
Having also played in the WHA, Howe is the second-highest scoring defensemen (1,247 points) in professional hockey, trailing only former Wing Paul Coffey.
Howe was a first-team NHL All-Star defensemen in 1983, '86 and '87 when he was also a runner-up for the Norris Trophy. In 1985-86, he led the league with a plus-85, and followed with plus-57 to pace all NHL defensemen in 1986-87. He was selected for five NHL All-Star games.
Howe and his wife, Ginger, live in Philadelphia and have two sons and a daughter. | 