MONTREAL — The Detroit Red Wings have acquired St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso, who was a pending unrestricted free agent.
Detroit sent a third-round pick, the 73rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft, to the Blues for Husso.
Husso has agreed a three-year deal with Detroit worth $4.75 million in exchange for the salary cap, according to multiple reports.
2 relatives
Husso, 27, had a breakthrough for the Blues in his second NHL season. He had a 25-7-6 record, a .919 save percentage and a 2.56 goal average. He took over the line from starter Jordan Binnington during the regular season and played 40 games, but lost it to Binnington in the playoffs, where he struggled. Husso recorded an .890 save percentage and a 3.67 GAA, including games in which he substituted for the injured Binnington against the Colorado Avalanche.
Before signing with Detroit, Husso was expected to become an unrestricted free agent. Given the flatness of that market, he was expected to receive contract offers that would dwarf what the Blues could pay him for a new deal.
The Red Wings are expected to pair him with goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, whom they acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes last summer. Veteran goaltender Thomas Greiss, who played 31 games for Detroit last season, is also an unrestricted free agent.
The trade reiterates the Blues’ commitment to Binnington, who has a no-trade clause and a $6 million cap through 2027. The only other goaltender to play at least five games for St. Louis last season was 28-year-old Charlie Lindgren, who is also an unrestricted free agent.