Help Between the Pipes: Three Detroit Red Wings Goalie Targets

The Detroit Red Wings took a nice step forward during the 2023-24 season. While they just missed out on the playoffs, they could be a threat in the Eastern Conference next season.

Because of this, the Red Wings will surely look to add talent this off-season. This is especially so when it comes to goaltending, as their main priority should be to add a legitimate No. 1 goalie. 

Let's discuss three potential goalie targets for the Red Wings. 

With the Minnesota Wild having top prospect Jesper Wallstedt and re-signing Marc-Andre Fleury, there is speculation about whether they will shop Filip Gustavsson this off-season. If Wallstedt is ready for the NHL, the crease is simply too crowded in Minnesota.

Gustavsson, 25, had a shaky season in 2023-24. In 45 appearances, he had a 20-18-4 record, a 3.06 goals-against average, and a .899 save percentage. However, when noting he had a .931 save percentage and 2.10 goals-against average in 39 appearances during 2022-23, he's a prime bounce-back candidate.

Gustavsson displayed during that season that he has the potential to be a true No. 1 goalie. He may be the kind of young goalie for the Red Wings to take a gamble on. However, he would be more than a rental, as he carries a $3.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2025-26 season. 

Linus Ullmark's future with the Boston Bruins is far from set in stone. The Original Six club reportedly tried to move him at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, but he blocked the trade. Now, with Jeremy Swayman taking the Bruins' net during the playoffs, an Ullmark trade seems inevitable.

Ullmark, 30, would give the Red Wings a proven No. 1 goaltender to work with. He won the Vezina Trophy with the Bruins in 2022-23. He followed that up this season by posting a 22-10-7 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.57 goals-against average. That's very strong stuff from the Bruins' 1B goalie.

Ullmark would not be too challenging for the Red Wings to afford, either, as he has a $5-million cap hit for the 2024-25 season.

Speaking of star goalies who could be moved this summer, Juuse Saros is somebody the Red Wings would likely love to add. He has been one of the NHL's most consistent goalies for several seasons. However, he is now in the final year of his deal, and Yaroslav Askarov looks like he could be ready for The Show. In that case, Saros could be made expendable for the right price.

The 29-year-old had another strong season for the Predators this campaign, posting a 35-24-5 record, a 2.86 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. That kind of goaltending would be huge for a club on the rise like the Red Wings to get. 

The Red Wings have a strong prospect pool, so they could possess the assets to land a high-impact goalie like Saros. It wouldn't be shocking if they went for him.

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