For the second summer in a row, Steve Yzerman has traded for a goalie coming off a breakout season.
The Red Wings have acquired Ville Husso from the Blues in exchange for a third round pick in this year's draft, the club announced Friday. They signed Husso to a three-year contract shortly thereafter; he was set to become an unrestricted free agent next week.
Husso, 27, gives the Wings and new head coach Derek Lalonde another young, athletic netminder to pair with 26-year-old Alex Nedeljkovic. He's an upgrade over former No. 2 Thomas Greiss, a free agent departure after two uneven seasons. Husso and Nedeljkovic can be expected to share the next season.
Nedeljkovic came to Detroit last year after finishing third for the Calder Trophy. Husso comes to Detroit after finishing seventh for the Vezina -- albeit with one third-place vote -- and outplaying Blues starter Jordan Binnington for much of the season. His .919 save percentage in 40 games ranked seventh in the NHL; his 2.56 goals against average ranked 11th (min. 30 games played).
Husso also made six playoff starts for St. Louis after Binnington went down with an injury, but was bombarded by the Avalanche in the second round. He finished with a playoff save percentage of .890.
Binnington, who led the Blues to the Cup in 2019, apparently remains the club's long-term preference in net. This made Husso expendable, on top of the fact that he needed a new contract -- and a raise. He's getting one from the Wings: $4.75 million per year, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Nedeljkovic is only signed through next season at $3 million, so Husso could emerge as Detroit's bridge to 19-year-old prospect and purported goalie of the future Sebastian Cossa. Of course, if he remains in Vezina conversations, Husso could lay claim the crease himself.
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