Why Red Wings Traded Ville Husso
Ville Husso (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)Every trade costs something.
Detroit Red Wings fans were treated to a trade on Monday night. Steve Yzerman surprised us all by trading goaltender Ville Husso to the Anaheim Ducks for “future considerations.”
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Ah yes, future considerations. Red Wings fans are familiar with that wonderful return. It’s the second time that the team has traded away a player for nothing.
However, examining this deal more closely makes it clearer why it was made.
The Ducks Needed A Goalie
Since the trade happened, many hockey fans have been speculating as to why the trade was made. Because John Gibson went down with an injury, much was said about what was happening with the veteran goaltender.
At this point, Gibson is not being traded. However, his loss is still felt. The San Diego Gulls, an AHL team, needed a goaltender. This is not just because the Ducks are calling up one to the NHL but because another AHL goalie has been injured.
Husso is already in the AHL, so once the Ducks acquired him, they only needed to assign him to San Diego.
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The Red Wings Needed Cap Space
While Husso was in Grand Rapids, $3.6 million of his $4.75 million contract was buried. Now that his $3.6 million is removed, they have more room for an acquisition without involving a third party to retain salary just to make something happen.
The Red Wings can go big-game hunting now. An Elias Pettersson deal makes more sense now. They could even acquire Dylan Cozens and another player without needing to send salary out.
That’s an envious position to be in.
Old Friends Doing a Deal
Steve Yzerman has been friends with Ducks GM Pat Verbeek for a long time. They were teammates on the Red Wings back in the 1999-2000 season.
Verbeek then became a scout for the Red Wings. After working as a pro scout for four seasons, he left the Red Wings to join Yzerman’s staff with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
When Yzerman became GM of the Red Wings, Verbeek came along. Now, he’s been the Ducks GM for just over two years.
Because of this long-standing professional relationship, it seems like the two GMs decided to do each other a favor.
Now that the Red Wings have completed that trade, fans will be on high alert for the other shoe to drop.
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