The Detroit Red Wings on Monday traded goaltender Ville Husso to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. Husso, 30, entered the season hoping to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2023-24 campaign. He had a strong training camp and preseason and edged out Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon for the starter’s job for the season-opener. But he got pulled midway through the second period of a 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh and was waived and assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins shortly after.
Husso went 8-4-0 with a 2.70 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in Grand Rapids, where he backed up top goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa. Husso was expendable because the Red Wings have another veteran, Jack Campbell, to fill that role. The Red Wings recalled Husso a couple of times due to injuries to Talbot and/or Lyon. Husso appeared in nine games with Detroit, going 1-5-2 with a 3.69 GAA and .866 save percentage.
The move frees up some cap space prior to the March 7 trade deadline, if the Red Wings need it. They have $13.6 million of deadline cap space according to puckpedia.com. Husso is in the final year of his contract at a $4.75 million average annual value. In two-plus seasons with the Red Wings, Husso went 36-32-11 with a 3.26 GAA, .892 save percentage, and four shutouts. He will report to the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks' AHL affiliate.
