The Edmonton Oilers are struggling early in the season for the second consecutive season.

Three games into the season, and there’s quite a lot of improvement needed. The offence has only scored three goals this season, six if you count the disallowed ones, while allowing 15 goals. Moreover, the Oilers have a league-worst 44.4 penalty kill percentage, shocking after how historic the penalty kill was in the 2024 postseason run.
One constant between the poor start of the 2023-24 season and the 2024-25 season is Stuart Skinner. Over his first eight games in 2023-24, he had an .854 save percentage and a 1-5-1 record. So far in two games, he’s allowed eight goals on 41 shots for an .805 save percentage and a 5.40 goals-against average.
Calvin Pickard hasn’t been any better, allowing six goals on 27 shots for a .778 save percentage and a 4.17 goals-against average. Sure, both netminders figured it out at some point last season and will likely do so again, but the Oilers could be better served picking up a 1B for Skinner.
Well, there may be one available in the Detroit Red Wings organization.
<h2>Getting to know Ville Husso</h2>
On Sunday, the Red Wings placed netminder Ville Husso on waivers, with the 29-year-old Finnish netminder clearing on Monday afternoon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedWings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RedWings</a> have recalled Austin Watson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Additionally, Ville Husso has been assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. <a href="https://t.co/luKHcAS5zH">pic.twitter.com/luKHcAS5zH</a>
&mdash; Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) <a href="https://twitter.com/DetroitRedWings/status/1845897074476269839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Husso was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the St. Louis Blues, eventually making his National Hockey League debut in 2020-21 with the team, where he had an .893 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average.
However, Husso was terrific for the Blue in 2021-22, appearing in 40 of their 82 games while posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average for a 25-7-6 record. In his first postseason game, he saved all 37 shots he faced and helped the Blues defeat the Minnesota Wild in the first round.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Ville Husso: The Pride of Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮 <a href="https://t.co/GUvOYKSeKr">pic.twitter.com/GUvOYKSeKr</a>
&mdash; NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1392853387675279365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Blues already had a starting goaltender &#8211; Jordan Binnington &#8211; while the Detroit Red Wings needed help between the pipes. His rights were traded to the Original Six team for a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, with Husso becoming the Wings’ full-time start to begin the 2022-23 season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
TRADE ALERT: The Blues have acquired the 73rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for goaltender Ville Husso. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stlblues</a>
&mdash; St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/1545405120283901955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Husso’s first season with the Red Wings started well, as he had an 11-6-5 record over his first 22 games played, along with a .913 save percentage. However, from Dec. 21 until the end of the season, Husso rocked an .884 save percentage in 34 games, along with a 15-16-2 record as the Wings missed the postseason for a seventh straight season.
The netminder started as the Wings&#8217; primary netminder to begin the 2023-24 season, rocking an .885 save percentage and a 6-3-1 record in his first 10 games played. However, in mid-November, he split the crease with Alex Lyon and James Reimer before suffering an injury on Dec. 18. In his first game back on Feb. 13, he suffered an injury against the Oilers and didn’t play again in 2023-24.
For the eighth consecutive season, the Red Wings missed the postseason. They finished with an equal number of points as the Washington Capitals, but the 2018 Stanley Cup champions had more regulation wins.
The beginning of the 2024-25 saw the Detroit Red Wings roll their usual three-starter tandem, featuring Husso, Lyon, and former Oiler Cam Talbot. Husso started the team’s season opener, allowing four goals on 14 shots before he was pulled and replaced by Talbot. A few days later, the Wings sent him to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapid Griffins.
For the time being, Husso’s demotion works for the Red Wings’ AHL team, as former Edmonton Oiler King Sebastian Cossa will get the majority of the team’s starts with Husso and Malcolm Subban backing up one of the league’s premier netminding prospects. 
However, when another former Oiler, Jack Campbell, returns from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistant Program, there won’t be enough spots in Grand Rapid’s crease for four netminders, two of which are veteran NHL goalies.
<h2>Does Husso fit with the Oilers?</h2>
Over the years, I’ve become quite fond of the Red Wings despite considering the Oilers my favourite team. A common theme with the Wings since I started watching them in 2021-22 is that goalies get off to a terrific start before eventually flaming out.
During the 2021-22 season, it was Alex Nedeljkovic, who looked like he could get some Calder Trophy votes before a disastrous second half. Obviously, Husso started the 2022-23 season strong, but his play took a dip. Even Alex Lyon had a strong start after taking over the crease, with his play dipping towards the end of the season.
Husso is a good goalie, but he’s better served as a 1B rather than a pure starter. It’s more of a fundamental Red Wings issue than it is a Husso issue. For example, when Husso was utilized as a 1B in 2021-22 with the Blues he found success. Even Nedeljkovic has regained some success as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 1B, posting a .902 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average in 38 games played last season.
Sharing the crease with Stuart Skinner would give the Oilers a legitimate 1B option instead of relying on Calvin Pickard to play around 20 games a season.
Of course, <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/ville-husso">Husso’s cap hit of $4.75 million</a> is less than ideal for the performance he’s had during the duration of his Red Wings career. There are some saving graces for the Wings though, as Husso is in the final season of his three-year deal, while the Wings have all three retention spots remaining. Clearing cap space could be of use for a team that wishes to make the postseason in 2024-25.
As it stands, the Wings have $604,318 in cap space and a projected $2.767 million when the trade deadline rolls around if all stays the same. Husso accounts for $3.6 million despite being in the AHL. It’s also worth noting that Husso has a 10-team no-trade list. The Oilers have $1.084 million in cap space, meaning that even if the Wings retain 50% of Husso’s contract, they’ll need to make an additional move or two.
<h2>With all that being said&#8230;</h2>
A more likely scenario is that the Oilers once again figure it out as they did early last season, with Skinner playing much better. However, there is an argument to be made that trading for Husso would give Skinner games off to rest for the postseason.
Still, if the Oilers’ awful start to the season continues, a roster move will need to be made, and trading for a 1B could be that move.
If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

The Edmonton Oilers are struggling early in the season for the second consecutive season.



Three games into the season, and there’s quite a lot of improvement needed. The offence has only scored three goals this season, six if you count the disallowed ones, while allowing 15 goals. Moreover, the Oilers have a league-worst 44.4 penalty kill percentage, shocking after how historic the penalty kill was in the 2024 postseason run.

One constant between the poor start of the 2023-24 season and the 2024-25 season is Stuart Skinner. Over his first eight games in 2023-24, he had an .854 save percentage and a 1-5-1 record. So far in two games, he’s allowed eight goals on 41 shots for an .805 save percentage and a 5.40 goals-against average.

Calvin Pickard hasn’t been any better, allowing six goals on 27 shots for a .778 save percentage and a 4.17 goals-against average. Sure, both netminders figured it out at some point last season and will likely do so again, but the Oilers could be better served picking up a 1B for Skinner.

Well, there may be one available in the Detroit Red Wings organization.
<h2>Getting to know Ville Husso</h2>
On Sunday, the Red Wings placed netminder Ville Husso on waivers, with the 29-year-old Finnish netminder clearing on Monday afternoon.

https://twitter.com/DetroitRedWings/status/1845897074476269839

Husso was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the St. Louis Blues, eventually making his National Hockey League debut in 2020-21 with the team, where he had an .893 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average.

However, Husso was terrific for the Blue in 2021-22, appearing in 40 of their 82 games while posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average for a 25-7-6 record. In his first postseason game, he saved all 37 shots he faced and helped the Blues defeat the Minnesota Wild in the first round.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1392853387675279365

The Blues already had a starting goaltender - Jordan Binnington - while the Detroit Red Wings needed help between the pipes. His rights were traded to the Original Six team for a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, with Husso becoming the Wings’ full-time start to begin the 2022-23 season.

https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/1545405120283901955

Husso’s first season with the Red Wings started well, as he had an 11-6-5 record over his first 22 games played, along with a .913 save percentage. However, from Dec. 21 until the end of the season, Husso rocked an .884 save percentage in 34 games, along with a 15-16-2 record as the Wings missed the postseason for a seventh straight season.

The netminder started as the Wings' primary netminder to begin the 2023-24 season, rocking an .885 save percentage and a 6-3-1 record in his first 10 games played. However, in mid-November, he split the crease with Alex Lyon and James Reimer before suffering an injury on Dec. 18. In his first game back on Feb. 13, he suffered an injury against the Oilers and didn’t play again in 2023-24.

For the eighth consecutive season, the Red Wings missed the postseason. They finished with an equal number of points as the Washington Capitals, but the 2018 Stanley Cup champions had more regulation wins.

The beginning of the 2024-25 saw the Detroit Red Wings roll their usual three-starter tandem, featuring Husso, Lyon, and former Oiler Cam Talbot. Husso started the team’s season opener, allowing four goals on 14 shots before he was pulled and replaced by Talbot. A few days later, the Wings sent him to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapid Griffins.

For the time being, Husso’s demotion works for the Red Wings’ AHL team, as former Edmonton Oiler King Sebastian Cossa will get the majority of the team’s starts with Husso and Malcolm Subban backing up one of the league’s premier netminding prospects. 

However, when another former Oiler, Jack Campbell, returns from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistant Program, there won’t be enough spots in Grand Rapid’s crease for four netminders, two of which are veteran NHL goalies.
<h2>Does Husso fit with the Oilers?</h2>
Over the years, I’ve become quite fond of the Red Wings despite considering the Oilers my favourite team. A common theme with the Wings since I started watching them in 2021-22 is that goalies get off to a terrific start before eventually flaming out.

During the 2021-22 season, it was Alex Nedeljkovic, who looked like he could get some Calder Trophy votes before a disastrous second half. Obviously, Husso started the 2022-23 season strong, but his play took a dip. Even Alex Lyon had a strong start after taking over the crease, with his play dipping towards the end of the season.

Husso is a good goalie, but he’s better served as a 1B rather than a pure starter. It’s more of a fundamental Red Wings issue than it is a Husso issue. For example, when Husso was utilized as a 1B in 2021-22 with the Blues he found success. Even Nedeljkovic has regained some success as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 1B, posting a .902 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average in 38 games played last season.

Sharing the crease with Stuart Skinner would give the Oilers a legitimate 1B option instead of relying on Calvin Pickard to play around 20 games a season.

Of course, <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/ville-husso">Husso’s cap hit of $4.75 million</a> is less than ideal for the performance he’s had during the duration of his Red Wings career. There are some saving graces for the Wings though, as Husso is in the final season of his three-year deal, while the Wings have all three retention spots remaining. Clearing cap space could be of use for a team that wishes to make the postseason in 2024-25.

As it stands, the Wings have $604,318 in cap space and a projected $2.767 million when the trade deadline rolls around if all stays the same. Husso accounts for $3.6 million despite being in the AHL. It’s also worth noting that Husso has a 10-team no-trade list. The Oilers have $1.084 million in cap space, meaning that even if the Wings retain 50% of Husso’s contract, they’ll need to make an additional move or two.
<h2>With all that being said...</h2>
A more likely scenario is that the Oilers once again figure it out as they did early last season, with Skinner playing much better. However, there is an argument to be made that trading for Husso would give Skinner games off to rest for the postseason.

Still, if the Oilers’ awful start to the season continues, a roster move will need to be made, and trading for a 1B could be that move.

If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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