3 options for the Detroit Red Wings at goalie heading into 2023-24
At roughly the midway point of the 2022-2023 season, it seemed like the Detroit Red Wings had found their solution in between the pipes while they waited on the development of Sebastian Cossa. Costing only a third-round pick, Ville Husso seemed to be a steal for the organization. Though that still appears to be the case, it became evident that the workload became too much to bear down the stretch.
Both Alex Nedelkovic and Magnus Hellberg struggled to answer the bell in relief of Husso with anything but less-than-average play. The need for a backup goaltender became painfully apparent as the losses stacked against them. Could Husso be given the majority of starts once again but play at a higher level if he is the support of a solid netminder that could give him a few extra nights off to rest? With Cossa still at least another year or two away from a full-time job in Detroit, the Red Wings will undoubtedly entertain a few options to help Husso for the 2023-2024 season.
Option one for the Detroit Red Wings: Free Agent Signing
It is no secret that the list of available UFAs this summer is less than exciting. There are, however, a few players that could be signed and play a key role if given the opportunity on the right roster. Semyon Varlamov is one of those players that could ideally play a large part in the Detroit Red Wings season next year if he were to sign with the club.
At 35 years old, Varlamov would not demand a long-term contract, nor should he require a sky-high price tag, unless the scarce UFA pool increases a bidding war for his services. He is a proven veteran playing in the back half of his career and no longer requires being the No. 1 netminder for a team.
Last season in Long Island, he posted a .913 SV%. If he were to share the net with Husso and provide his services for 20-25 games, that could be the recipe for success in keeping the puck out of the net in Detroit.
Option two for the Detroit Red Wings: Look Within The System
The Grand Rapids Griffins struggled nearly all year, and the goaltending was no different. When Nedelkovic was not sent down to play with the Griffins and tried to work out of his funk of poor play that he seemed to be stuck in, Brattstrom and Bednard were also less than inspiring. Conventional thought in the NHL is to call up a goalie from the AHL to make the next logical step in the competition.
In Detroit’s case, this would be a mistake. Nedelkovic was clearly the most talented netminder that had played in Grand Rapids, and that experiment has run its course. Would taking a look toward Toledo in the ECHL be too outlandish? Probably. But Sebastian Cossa is unlikely to see full-time NHL action next season, even with his recent success in the Kelly Cup playoffs. He is expected to be conditioned and over-ripened before being brought up to the show.
Steve Yzerman put a lot of draft capital into acquiring his future goalie to potentially make the Detroit Red Wings a cup contender again. He will not be rushed into that role until he has accomplished everything else on the table for him. Cossa will demand the net in the AHL for 2024.
However, John Lethemon has had equally as impressive of a season as Cossa in dominating their opposition. Only losing one game in regulation all season with the Walleye and winning the Nick Vitucci Goaltender of the Year Award, Lethemon offers a bit of unknown, which at the very least, is more enticing than the known commodities of Hellberg and Nedelkovic.
If Lethemon can keep his play at a high level, it would be possible to give him 10-15 games in relief of Husso.
Option three for the Detroit Red Wings: Trade
With the impending demise of the Winnipeg Jets core roster after Heach Coach Rick Bowness threw his players under the bus, there could be a sliver of a chance Connor Hellebuyck will be on the market. If that is the case, Detroit should push hard for him. Hellebuyck is a former Vezina Trophy winner and arguably the best player on the Jets’ current roster. His cap hit is just slightly over $6 million.
Hellebuyck, 30, a native of Commerce, Michigan, posted a tremendous .920 save percentage to go along with a 2.49 goals-against average this past season in Winnipeg. In 64 appearances, the veteran netminder produced a regular season record of 37-25-2 while posting four shutouts.
Hellebuyck would offer flexibility in the net for the foreseeable future. A tandem of Husso-Hellebuyck could be a 50/50 split or allow Coach Lalonde to confidently ride the hot glove. In addition, there would be less of an urgency for Cossa to be pushed along, allowing him the proper time to fully develop his game to the NHL caliber.
Granted, moving on from Hellebuyck could mean that the Jets would ask for Husso in the return package, which would leave Detroit in the same situation they currently stand in, albeit upgrading the position.
Making the case to swing for Matvei Michkov. dark. Next
The correct choice is anything but certain. What is certain is that Steve Yzerman and company understand that they can not go into next season with the same goaltending group. A move must be made to best support the talent of Husso while at the same time giving the team a better chance to win night in and night out.