Husso's play has Red Wings eyeing playoff berth

DETROIT- As the Detroit Red Wings continue to prove the pundits wrong during their quest to make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, there is one date which should become etched in the memories of Detroit's rabid fanbase.

On July 8, 2022, Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman pulled off yet another trade with the St. Louis Blues, acquiring Finnish goalie Ville Husso, for the Wings' third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
And unless center Aleksanteri Kaskimaki - the player the Blues selected with their pick from the Wings - becomes a first-ballot Hall of Famer- the Husso deal has been a plethora of riches for the Red Wings and looks like a steal.
Almost immediately after the trade, Yzerman signed the 6-foot-3, 200-pound netminder to a three-year contract extension, which will keep him in Detroit through the 2024-25 season.
"We feel comfortable that this makes us a better team, and we had the cap space, and the contract isn't seven years or anything like that," Yzerman told a group of assembled reporters in Montreal at the 2022 NHL Draft. "It's a very reasonable term for us. There's not a lot of goalies out there, and we felt like we better get one…you need depth at that position. I thought it was worthwhile - I don't want to call it a gamble, but a worthwhile decision to make."
Originally, Detroit envisioned Husso sharing the net with his goaltending partner, Alex Nedeljkovic. Unfortunately, Nedeljkovic has struggled dating back to the midway point of last season and he is currently in Grand Rapids patrolling the crease for the Griffins, as he tries to get his game in order.
Since arriving in Hockeytown, Detroit's goaltending has fallen squarely on Husso's shoulders, and he has delivered in a big way.

Husso has been Detroit's starting goalie in 41 of its 56 games this season. He's 22-13-5, with a goals-against average of 2.90, a save percentage of .905 and three shutouts.
Husso is 11-0-1 this season when he makes 32 or more saves and has allowed one goal or fewer in 11 starts. Husso's three shutouts places him in a tie for fourth overall in the NHL, and he is 5-1-0 with a 2.16 GAA and a save percentage of .934 in his last six starts dating back to Feb. 9 vs. Calgary. Since Jan 24 vs. San Jose, he is 7-2-0.
Husso's 41 games played surpasses his career high of 40 for the most games he has played in an NHL season, a feat he accomplished last year in St. Louis. Husso scoffs at the notion of the 40-game mark being some sort of threshold for him.
"I think it's just a number, but you are aware of the load and stuff. I just try to stay as fresh as I can," Husso said. "I could have played even more (last year). I was out with COVID for a little bit and injured. I played 40 games, but I missed probably like a month and a half. So, like, at least 10 games when you're healthy. I just try to go day-by-day, take care of my body. Nothing special, really.
"This year I've been lucky to be healthy all the way and I have to make sure nothing comes. Be at peace more on the ice, in practice and get ready for games."
While Husso is working on his on-ice inner peace, his workload has been concerning for the Red Wings, but Detroit's hierarchy is aware their best chance at qualifying for the playoffs is riding Husso to the end as he eclipses his single-season mark of games played.
"I think we know (at times) we've rolled out a tired Ville and we may have used him more than expected," Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. "But we're to the point where getting him past this threshold (40 games), just like everything else we're building, and we're building him. We might use him more than anticipated down the stretch, within reason."
Yet, Husso is looking forward to testing himself and he is somewhat nonchalant about how he will approach his remaining starts in the Wings net.
"When you play more, of course your level of play might get a little down, but I just try to keep the same level every night. Even better," Husso said. "It's always tough when you're a little tired when you play more. I'd say for everybody, especially at the end of the year, it's a long season and a lot of games. You just try to stay healthy and fresh and I'm trying not to think about it too much."

Don't let his nonchalant, youthful appearance and unassuming nature fool you. Husso may look like a teenager at 28 and his unflappable demeanor has had a calming effect on his teammates, but Husso has a competitive spirit, which he learned how to manage at a relatively young age.
"When I was young, I'd say like 14 years old, I was a little fiery sometimes there and if I got scored on, I would flip the puck into the stands or stuff like that," Husso recalled. "(One) time the goalie coach, he told me if you ever want to play in the top leagues, you must calm down, you can't show the guys (up) and especially (in front of) other teams.
"That's something that you learn when you get older. Whatever happens, just stay calm and whatever happens, go step by step. If it's a bad thing, just eat it and try to take something positive out of it, too."
Early on in his Red Wings career, Husso's compete level coupled with his athleticism has drawn admiration.
"Not knowing much about him coming into the season, what's been most impressive is the way he battles out there night in night out," said Bally Sports Detroit analyst and former Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. "Over the course of the season, he's come up with the big, timely saves for the guys, whether it's to hang onto a lead or it's to keep them in the game. His compete level is really off the charts."
Howard also likes the way Husso uses his big body to his full advantage.
"I love his stance. For a guy that's a big guy, he's 6-foot-3, I love how narrow his stance is. That's what allows him to go side to side and he goes side to side explosive," Howard said. "So, when he's moving, he's able to get across and make those big saves because his feet are always in a good spot underneath him whereas a lot of goalies that are that big, their stance is a little bit wider so when they're moving east-west in the crease, it's not nearly as explosive and they're reaching (for the puck) more."
Detroit's goaltending coach Alex Westlund was aware of Husso the goalie but didn't know him until they started communicating after his trade to the Red Wings.
"After I got the job, the following morning, it was like, 'Hey, we just traded for Ville, signed him.' At that point, basically I just tried to get a ton of video, get used to his game," Westlund said. "I reach out right away, I introduce myself to him. I want to say we spoke on the phone about a week later, a couple days later. Then you just start the relationship, start trying to get comfortable with each other as people.
"It's summertime so there's lots of time before you're on the ice together and you kind of come up with a plan on things he might want to work on, things I think he should work on, kind of a way to attack his game and try to maximize everything he is."
Westlund and Husso have developed an outstanding working relationship and are on the same page. Like Howard, he is a fan of Husso's stance, but it always wasn't as polished as it is today.
"That's something that has definitely been a focus point. When we got him from St. Louis, his stance width is always part of the conversation. There are times when because of a play, just the way a play happens, we get wide, a goalie gets too wide and then you're sort of stuck a little bit," Westlund said. "But Ville has done a very good job. I think when Husso is at his best, he's able to keep his feet underneath him and does maximize that mobility, that power. Being able to play on his feet versus having to slide laterally, that's a big focus point."
Whether Husso has figured his game out completely and has arrived as a bona fide starter at the NHL level is still being determined, however.
Westlund is quick to point out every player is different. Each player has their own learning curve, and some take longer to develop than others.
It was not until his mid 20s when Husso's game started to click at the NHL level and he is still a work in progress.
"He's playing more minutes than he has. I think learning how to manage yourself physically, mentally and making yourself as consistent as possible 'cause at the end of it, you don't want one great game, one awful game, one great game, one awful game," Westlund said. "It's very hard for teams to find rhythm when your goalie's really up and down. So, I think for Husso, it's about playing as well as possible as consistently as possible for as long as possible.
"That's managing yourself away from the rink, that's doing all the right things that we ask of these guys, energy levels, all that stuff. Then when it's time to play a game, you go do what you do. That's what they get paid for and that's what they love doing."
Detroit's players have quickly embraced Husso and are aware without his exceptional goaltending prowess, the Wings would most likely not be knocking on the playoff door.

"We were all on the same page right from the start and it's just getting better and better," said defenseman Moritz Seider. "It's great playing in front of all our goalies. It's really good. But Husso is a tremendous goalie for us, saved us a couple games already and been a tremendous help for us. Really calm under pressure. We know we can rely on him in big situations and that's key."
Communication on the ice is a key element for any team's success. Seider appreciates Husso not being a chatterbox.
"He's just saying important stuff, exactly what we need, cheering guys up for a big block," Seider said. "That just gets you going and makes you want to block more shots for him. He has a good way of communicating."
It's just not Detroit's defensive corps that Husso has endeared himself to, the Wings forwards know their goalie is a rock between the pipes.
"He's had a huge workload for sure. He's brought us great goaltending, consistency, a good attitude, good work ethic. We don't really have to worry about him back there," said winger Michael Rasmussen. "He does his job really well and trusts us to put good games in front of him. He's been a great piece for us on the ice and a calming presence in the room.
"For sure he talks to us. He's our eyes sometimes. He can say 'guy backdoor,' 'watch the slot,' stuff like that. He's pretty vocal out there and really accurate with his talk."
With 26 games left in Detroit's season, it is clear Husso will receive the majority of starts in net. And with his game rounding out nicely and his teammates having the utmost confidence in him, Husso seems ready to tackle any number of games, knowing with each start, he is venturing into uncharted territory.
"It's been amazing here. Of course, there is a couple games where I probably let the team down but overall, it's been great to be here with our organization," Husso said. "All the guys in the locker room, and all you guys (media). It's been nice to come here and whenever it's game time, I'm ready to go and I can still be better.
"Last year, those top guys played 55 games, so I think that's the number. It's hard when it's back-to-back games and all that. It's not easy for a goalie to play back-to-back games and get the best result. I don't have any specific number. If I feel good, I'll play any game."
He paused for moment, smiled and said,
"I'm fine at 60."