The Detroit Red Wings have decided to bring in another goalie, acquiring Ville Husso from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a third-round pick in today’s draft. The team then quickly signed Husso to a three-year extension, keeping him from unrestricted free agency next week. The deal will carry an average annual value of $4.75MM.
The Red Wings, who have Alex Nedeljkovic coming off an inconsistent season and signed for just one more year, needed another goaltender if they want to be competitive in the Atlantic Division this season. By acquiring Husso, they’ve grabbed one of the top options on the market.
Already an extremely shallow pool, the group of free agent goaltenders is getting smaller by the minute. Husso and Marc-Andre Fleury are now off the market, while Alexandar Georgiev is no longer expected to join them after being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. It leaves Darcy Kuemper and Jack Campbell in line for a big payday, as the two remaining options that could be considered starting goaltenders.
Husso, 27, had been considered a top goaltending prospect for years but it took until the 2021-22 season for him to get a real opportunity in the NHL. He ran with it, posting a .919 save percentage in 40 games and essentially stealing the starter’s role from Jordan Binnington. In his first taste of playoff action, he faltered and gave that job right back but the Finnish netminder has still shown he can be a strong option at the NHL level.
With Nedeljkovic, who has also shown flashes of brilliance over his relatively short NHL career, the Red Wings have a young, competitive tandem that should push each other for playing time this season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Could be the goalie steal of the year! Or not………..
With Cossa in the wings? Weird trade. Makes sense now but wonder where Ned is going next offseason
Can never have too many goalies… My guess is that Cossa moves to the AHL next year and his play in the AHL will determine if they want to bring Ned back. Probably more likely that Cossa and Husso will be a strong tandem at a very affordable rate for a couple of years.
Less likely, but Ned could even turn into a trade piece this year depending on where DET is at near the deadline and if Cossa is killing it in the AHL.
Ville and Ned will duel it out for #1, very healthy! It will make this team better!
Husso was able to push Benington back into shape!
Weird? Cossa is at minimum 2 years away!
Yeah wasn’t he drafted last year? Give him time to develop, rushing goalies doesn’t work
Looking at numbers, I don’t think Cossa is in the AHL this year. Probably with EDM again, honestly.
Kuemper’s and Campbell’s values just went up!!!! Ha ha Trono!
Stevie Y with the genius move. Nobody should be surprised.
Get some help at LD and C now Stevie!!
Good move by Army to get something before losing Husso for nothing.
Leaves fans punching air
Certainly, an upgrade over Greiss. Now Stevie Y needs to focus on fixing the D as after Seider the Wings have no real defensemen they can count on. Edvinson will add some talent, but Hronek, Lindstom, Oesterle and others haven’t really proved they’re NHL caliber guys
If you grab enough flashes in the pan, one might be gold.
I remember when last year’s trade for a goalie was genius, too.
Is Hofer now #2 in STL?
Hofer was bloody *terrific* for Springfield this playoff, and that’s not even counting the goal he scored. (I’m gnashing my teeth still at missing that game.) But he’s only 21 still, and might be left on the farm for more seasoning. If the Blues don’t go shopping for another goalie, I expect they’ll have Lindgren up instead.
Cap is a little tight for goalie shopping.
That’s what you need cap space for. Wait for an opportunity and shoot for it. Too bad for Trono fans their management cares more about tik tok views than winning a cup