Detroit Red Wings: How long can Ville Husso hold up with this workload?

The Detroit Red Wings continue to push and push with netminder Ville Husso. After acquiring him in a trade with the St. Louis Blues this summer, he has become the teams’ number-one option between the pipes.

He has had two different battery mates, with Alex Nedeljkovic heading down to the AHL level and Magnus Hellberg getting some chances currently, but the Detroit Red Wings have plenty of faith in Husso. He continues to rack up starts and is slated for two more in the Red Wings’ next three games.

He continues to tally games played which is taxing on the netminder. In today’s game, starters do not go out and play night in and night out. It’s more likely for the number one option to have a platoon they split time with. There are a few exceptions to the rule, like Andrei Vasilevskiy, but Husso is not that.

In 2022-23, Husso has already made 32 starts which is 71% of the Red Wings games. He has played to a 15-11-5 record while posting a .901 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average.

Detroit Red Wings need to manage Ville Husso’s workload better.

The Red Wings have to be better about managing Husso’s workload. He may be a solid netminder, but treating him like he’s Vasilevskiy is not the right way to go about things. In 2021-22, Husso set a career record for starts with the St. Louis Blues, manning the blue paint for 38 games with 40 appearances overall.

Looking a little bit deeper and checking out his time in the AHL and overseas, Husso’s career-high overall games played is 42 during his time with the San Antonio Rampage. Granted, he managed a 2.56 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage.

For the Red Wings, they need to manage the workload better. The stats could keep taking a downward spiral if they trot him out there night after night. While the team’s backup goalie spot has been unpredictable and not good overall in 2022-23, the reliance on Husso has been a bit high.

As mentioned, he’s started in 71% of the team’s games, and with his numbers, it feels like that should be a bit lower. Husso is currently on pace for 58 starts and closing in on 60. As much as Husso is the team’s number one option, that type of workload seems to be a bit much.

The Red Wings need to figure something out to ensure they are not crushing Husso with too much workload this season. Since the calendar has flipped to 2023, Husso has logged eight games with a 3-5-0 record. He’s allowed 27 games with a measly .879 save percentage.