Well, the Ville Husso experience with the Detroit Red Wings is officially over. General manager Steve Yzerman made a minor deal moving the veteran netminder to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for future considerations.
The move clears a bit of salary cap space for the Detroit Red Wings and the Ducks, who are in need of a backup goaltender after losing veteran John Gibson to injury over the weekend. Lukáš Dostál will shoulder the load for Anaheim and has been very efficient for the rebuilding Ducks this season, going 16-13-5 with a 2.92 goals against average and a robust 0.910 save percentage.
Husso is on an expiring deal and will provide Anaheim with some flexibility. Husso appeared in nine games this season, with the Red Wings posting a 1-5-2 record, 3.69 goals against average, and a very poor 0.866 save percentage. Last season, Husso started 18 games for the Red Wings and produced a 9-5-2 record with an elevated 3.55 GAA and a 0.892 save percentage.
This would clear $3.6 million off of the Red Wings' cap sheet (after the $1.15M savings from burying his contract), so a little extra room for Detroit to maneuver if they choose to before next Friday's deadline. https://t.co/D4LYe4T6qL
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) February 25, 2025
Red Wings centers are dropping like flies
This past weekend was not kind to Detroit Red Wings centermen. Detroit lost Andrew Copp on Saturday afternoon to an undisclosed injury. On Monday, head coach Todd McLellan mentioned that Copp's injury appears to be more long-term than the organization initially anticipated.
Copp has moved up and down Detroit's lineup since joining the Red Wings but has settled in as their second-line center since McLellan took over as the head coach on in late December. The veteran center has recorded 10 goals and 13 assists over 56 games this season. Copp was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of Sunday's game, and veteran forward Tyler Motte was activated and inserted into the lineup, sporting a full face shield in his absence.
The Red Wings lost Michael Rasmussen on Sunday afternoon after suffering a head injury thanks to a high, dirty hit from Ducks forward Trevor Zegras. Zegras clearly targeted Rasmussen's head as the towering center was defenseless and looking in the opposite direction.
On Monday, Zegras had a hearing with the NHL Player Safety department and was handed down a three-game suspension. Rasmussen had been moved back to center on the third line. He's notched nine goals and 16 points this season, skating primarily in a checking role.
No penalty was called. Dirty hit, targeting the head. Ben Chiarot stood up for his teammate as the 2nd period ended. If things get out of hand in the third period it’s because the officials failed to officiate. Suspension likely coming for Zegras. pic.twitter.com/4xz81Z4pFM
— Bob Heyrman (@BobHeyrman30) February 24, 2025
The Detroit Red Wings will insert veteran Christian Fischer into the lineup for Rasmussen, who is considered day-to-day but will not travel to Minnesota for Tuesday's contest. Fischer had been a healthy scratch. The Red Wings also recalled veteran center Sheldon Dries from the Grand Rapids Griffins for support in case an injury happened to occur in warmups, etc.
The Detroit Red Wings have been linked to a few talented forwards over the past few days, and I wonder if losing a pair of centers will intensify those trade conversations. Adding a player like Dylan Cozens suddenly seems a lot more likely after clearing some salary with the Husso trade and the recent string of injuries, particularly to Copp. Cozens can be slotted in on the second line in place of Copp between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane and thrive right away.