DETROIT – After being drafted and developed by the Detroit Red Wings organization, Jimmy Howard never had any doubt that this was the place he wanted to continue his career, where he hopes to one day finish it.

Howard said Thursday that he is close to signing a six-year contract extension with the Red Wings. The deal will be worth around $5.3 million per season, more than doubling his current $2.25 million salary.

“It's really, really close,'' Howard said after the morning skate, before the Red Wings host the San Jose Sharks tonight (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit).

He said some small details need to be worked out but that the deal could be done by the weekend.

“I wanted to be here,'' Howard said. “I get along great with everyone here. I believe in this organization and I think we're going to get the job done.''

Howard, 29, arguably has been the club's most valuable player during this transition season. He is 16-11-4, with a 2.45 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.

“First thought for me was providing for my family and to have that security blanket for them means the most,'' Howard said. “It feels good. I've worked really hard, paid my dues in the minors.''

Howard, drafted in the second round in 2003 (64th overall), has a career record of 126-65-23, with a 2.42 GAA, .917 save percentage and 13 shutouts.

Coach Mike Babcock called it a great deal.

“Howie has worked hard and the organization has confidence in him,'' Babcock said. “It's important for us. We need good goaltending. Just how much parity there is, we need him each and every night and he's been excellent for us.''

Babcock said Howard has improved his consistency.

“In anybody's game, there's things he can work on,'' Babcock said. “He can always work on his puck-handling, and he's been working on that.

“To me, what he's done is become a guy you can count on. That's what you need in this league. The bottom line for us is we hope this gets done so we can get on with winning games.''

MLive.com reported last month that the sides were making good progress on a deal that would pay Howard more than $5 million per season for at least five years.

Howard said contract talks were not a distraction like they were two years ago.

“With it being such a condensed schedule and so many games being played in such a short amount of time, I haven't really had much time to think about it,'' Howard said.

According to CapGeek.com, Howard's $5.3 million cap hit would rank 10th in the NHL among goalies. Nashville's Pekka Rinne is No. 1 at $7 million. The rest of the top 10 includes Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers ($6.875 million), Roberto Luongo of Vancouver ($6.7 M), Ilya Bryzgalov of Philadelphia ($6.5 M), Cam Ward of Carolina ($6.25 M), Ryan Miller of Buffalo ($6.25 M), Niklas Backstrom of Minnesota ($6.0 M), Marc-Andre Fleury of Pittsburgh ($5.5 M) and Carey Price of Montreal ($5.5 M).

Of that group, only Ward and Fleury have led their teams to a Stanley Cup championship.