Red Wings’ Ville Husso looks to rebound in 2023-24 season

The Detroit Red Wings have a history of producing quality NHL goaltenders and last season was no different. Ville Husso was a big reason why Detroit had success in the first half of last season.

However, he was also partly responsible for the teams’ collapse in the second half. Husso is looking to get back to the way he played in the first half as the team drives toward a playoff spot.

The 6-foot-3 and 200-pound goaltender from Helinski, Finland was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings in July of 2022, agreeing to a 3-year/ $14.25 million. He earned that contract by playing extremely well before the new year rolled around.

Then the entire team hit a skid. Every shot from the opposition went in and the team could not score. The team had fallen out of the playoff race and the team faced several questions. Detroit and Husso finished last season playing well but that skid mid-season cost them a playoff spot.

The Detroit Red Wings need more from Ville Husso in the 2023-24 season.

Husso finished last season with a record of 26-22-7, a 3.11 goals-against-average, a .896 save percentage, and four shutouts.

His 26 wins and four shutouts were career highs, while the 22 losses were ninth most in the league. Several times last season, he was left to make spectacular saves because of the defense scrambling in their own zone.

Husso was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 4th round (94th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft. His career totals include a record of 60-35-14, a save percentage of .904, a GAA of 2.93, and seven shutouts.

He played the majority of his games with the Red Wings, and with a revamped defense, could very well set career highs again.

Detroit added defenseman Justin Holl to give the Red Wings another defense-first defenseman who can help clear the puck and concentrate on the back half of the ice.

They also added defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jeff Petry to help offensively and give Detroit another weapon in the offensive zone.

The Red Wings also added J.T. Compher and Christian Fischer, two players who have a well-rounded game that can help out defensively.

Add another year of defenseman Moritz Seider and Jake Walman as the top-pairing and Husso should have another good year with the possibility of 30 wins.

The Detroit Red Wings success will be based on goaltending and offense and it seems both of those issues have been solidified this off-season.