Updated at 6:54 PM: New Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso spoke with the media for the first time as a Red Wing on Sunday, and you can watch his press conference on YouTube.
MLive’s Ansar Khan took note of Husso’s comments regarding an inconsistent but promising 2021-2022 season played in St. Louis, as well as Husso’s remarks about coming to Detroit in a draft-day trade:
Husso had a strong second NHL season (25-7-6, 2.56 goals-against average, .919 save percentage), tying for seventh in Vezina Trophy voting as the league’s top goalie (one third-place vote)
The Red Wings hope Husso plays more like he did the first half of the season (2.03 GAA, .935 save percentage) than the second half and playoffs (3.23 GAA, .901 save percentage). After posting a shutout in his playoff debut against Minnesota, the remainder of the postseason was a struggle (1-5, 4.29 GAA, .869 save percentage).
“The last year was a really good start and unfortunately I got COVOD and was out for three weeks,” Husso said. “Next year I need to be on the level I played that long part of last season. My next goal is to be on that level every single night.”
Husso was going to test the unrestricted free agent marketplace before his trade to Detroit, but he chose to ink a 3-year contract with the Red Wings instead:
“I’m very happy to join the Detroit Red Wings, a historic team, 11 Stanley Cups,” Husso said.
He enters a room with some familiar faces. Yzerman since becoming Red Wings GM has made three trades with the Blues, acquiring Robby Fabbri in 2019 and, at this year’s deadline, sending Nick Leddy to St. Louis for Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Walman.
“They (three former teammates) said good things about Detroit and the fans and everything. I’m looking forward to that,” Husso said. “I’m a pretty easygoing guy, so hopefully all the guys like me, and I think it will be fine.”
Update: The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan also took note of Husso’s remarks…
Much has already been discussed and dissected on social media about the potential strength the goaltending could be with Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. Both are at similar points in their career, have shown the ability to win in the NHL in a short sample size, but still have things to learn about consistency.
Husso has yet to meet Nedeljkovic, but expects the duo to be a strength of the team.
“I feel like these days in hockey you need to have two good goalies on the team,” Husso said. “I haven’t met Alex yet but I look forward to that and I think we’ll be a good goalie duo.
“It’s always nice to have good guy or goalie partner with you,” Husso said. “Me and (Jordan) Binnington were pushing each other every day. That’s one thing I learned from him. With Alex, I want to do the same thing, push each other every day in practice and games to get better every day.”
