Anaheim Ducks Acquire Ville Husso from Detroit Red Wings for Future Considerations
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The Anaheim Ducks have made a significant move to bolster their goaltending depth by acquiring veteran goaltender Ville Husso from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations, the club announced on Monday. This move comes after the Ducks' starter John Gibson left Saturday's win over the Boston Bruins due to an injury. As a result, the Ducks will first send Husso to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.
Husso, 30, is playing out the final days of a three-year deal he signed with Detroit that carries a $4.75 million salary cap hit. While he has been a popular name on the trade market largely because of his contract, it remains to be seen whether he can be viewed as a No. 1 option or a reliable No. 2 down the stretch. His numbers lack that type of identity, as he has never played more than 56 games in a season, and that came in 2022-23, when he won 26 for the Red Wings. Earlier this season, Husso was sent to Detroit's AHL affiliate, as the Red Wings shifted their focus in net to veterans Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon.
The trade has freed up $3.6 million in salary cap space for the Detroit Red Wings, who received future considerations in dealing the 30-year-old player. Husso had a 1-5-2 record with Detroit and went 8-4 with two shutouts with AHL Grand Rapids this season. Over five NHL seasons, he has a 70-45-18 record with seven shutouts. The Red Wings can now go big-game hunting, and an Elias Pettersson deal makes more sense now. They could even acquire Dylan Cozens and another player without needing to send salary out. The following are some of Husso's key statistics:
- Record: 70-45-18
- Shutouts: 7
- Games played in a season: 56 (2022-23)
- Wins in 2022-23: 26
The trade between the Anaheim Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings is also notable due to the long-standing professional relationship between the two GMs, Steve Yzerman and Pat Verbeek. They were teammates on the Red Wings back in the 1999-2000 season, and Verbeek then became a scout for the Red Wings. After working as a pro scout for four seasons, he left the Red Wings to join Yzerman’s staff with the Tampa Bay Lightning. When Yzerman became GM of the Red Wings, Verbeek came along, and now he’s been the Ducks GM for just over two years. The Red Wings' current salary cap situation and their potential moves in the trade market will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as they have more room for an acquisition without involving a third party to retain salary.
The acquisition of Ville Husso by the Anaheim Ducks and the subsequent assignment to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League may have significant implications for the team's performance in the upcoming games. The Ducks' schedule for the remainder of the season will be crucial in determining their playoff chances, and the addition of Husso may provide the necessary depth to make a push for the playoffs. The following are some of the key upcoming games for the Ducks:
- Game 1: vs. Boston Bruins
- Game 2: vs. Detroit Red Wings
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