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