University of Maine hockey goalie Jimmy Howard said the decision between returning for his senior year or signing with the Detroit Red Wings will come down to “what feels right in my heart.”

With the news that the NHL has solved its labor dispute, that will mean the Red Wings will be able to contact him after the deal is ratified. They drafted Howard in the second round in the 2003 draft.

Jim Nill, assistant general manager for the Red Wings, told John McGourty of NHL.com late last month that Howard is “very high on our depth chart. Depending on the situation, we would like him to turn pro now.”

“That’s news to me,” said Howard, noting that the Red Wings weren’t allowed to talk to him during the labor dispute.

“I’ll wait and hear what they have to say and make my decision,” said Howard.

“It’s a win-win situation. If I don’t turn pro, I’ll get to play 40 games here. There are a lot of plusses to staying. One, I want to win a national championship,” he added.

“If we’re as close-knit as we were at the end of last season, we could have a very special team. And I enjoy playing here and the Maine tradition. If I do turn pro, I’ll gain exposure to the pro style of game. And it has been a lifetime dream of mine to play in the NHL. By making it to the next step, I’ll be getting that much closer.”

The 21-year-old Howard already owns the school record for career shutouts with 15. He is coming off a season in which he posted six shutouts with a 19-13-7 record, a 1.92 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

He has a career record of 47-23-20, a 1.81 GAA and a .931 save percentage.

Howard set NCAA records for GAA (1.19) and save percentage (.956) during the 2003-2004 season in which he was selected a second team All-American.

Howard said if the Red Wings make him an offer, he will discuss it with “my whole family, everybody up here at Maine and anyone who brought something into my life for which I’m thankful for.

“But the decision will be mine,” added Howard.

The 6-foot, 220-pound native of Ogdensburg, N.Y. has been working out daily at Maine and working at the hockey summer camps.

He said he has “really stepped up” his workouts and is in excellent shape.

“If I stay, it’ll be my senior year and I want to go out with a bang. I want to be ready when the puck is dropped in September. I don’t want to be slowed up by anything,” Howard said. “On the other hand, if I go to the Red Wings camp, I don’t want to go in there out of shape. I don’t want to be a mess and disappoint everyone. I don’t want to put myself behind the eight ball right away.”