Career
Howatt was known for his toughness and, due to his small size, had the nickname "Toy Tiger."
Junior and AHL
Howatt played one year in the WCHL with the Flin Flon Bombers in 1971-1972. He amassed 79 points in 60 games. That year he was drafted into the National Hockey League by the New York Islanders at the 1972 National Hockey League Amateur Draft.
The year after he played with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL, getting 49 points in 65 games.
National Hockey League
Howatt started his National Hockey League career with the New York Islanders in 1972. He also played for the New Jersey Devils and Hartford Whalers.
He retired after the 1984 season. Howatt enjoyed his greatest popularity with the Islanders, remaining on the team from their first season, through their formative years of steady improvement, right through to their first two Stanley Cups, in 1980 and 1981.
Foreign this reason, Islander fans established a Howatt-Nystrom booster club, called the "Dynamic Duo Fan Club", which was active throughout the 1970s.
When he left the Islanders in 1981, Howatt held the Islanders" career penalty-minutes record (1,466) and career playoffs penalty-minutes record (279). In Hartford, Howatt scored a career-high 50 points and was offered a long-term contract and the team"s captaincy. However, in his words, "bad advice from some former teammates" led him to request a trade to New Jersey.
Howatt was traded with Rick Meagher for Merlin Malinowski and the rights to Scott Fusco.
