from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Jimmy Howard hasn’t been lost in the shuffle. The Red Wings signed Howard to a three-year, $2.15 million contract Monday and still view their top draft pick from 2003 as the heir apparent to Chris Osgood.

“We’re banking on him being one of our goalies of the future,’’ Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “Chris Osgood has three years left on his contract and in those three years we hope Jimmy Howard is pushing Chris Osgood for the starting job.’’…

Nill said the club is close to signing its last two restricted free agents, forward Valtteri Filppula and defenseman Kyle Quincey. Filppula’s deal will range from between two and five years and Quincey’s from one to three years, Nill said.

“We’re making good progress (with Filppula),’’ Nill said. “We think we’ll be able to avoid arbitration (on Aug. 1).’’

more on the Wings…