The Detroit Red Wings’ recent history with trading for goaltenders has not been successful. Last season, Ville Husso, acquired from the St. Louis Blues, struggled significantly, posting an 85th-place finish in the NHL with a 3.55 goals-against average (GAA) and a 73rd-place finish with a .892 save percentage. His performance has raised concerns, leaving the team with more questions than answers as he enters the final year of his $4.75 million contract.
If the Red Wings decide to acquire a new goaltender, they will likely need to trade one of their current goalies, with Husso being the more probable candidate over Alex Lyon. However, moving Husso could be challenging given his recent performance.
One potential target is Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins, the 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner. The Bruins aim to promote Jeremy Swayman as their primary goaltender and are looking to trade Ullmark, who has a no-trade clause and a nine-team approval list. It’s doubtful if Detroit is on that list, and Boston’s demand for a first-round pick might deter Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, especially since Ullmark has never won a playoff series.
Other trade options include Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames and Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild. Markstrom’s $6 million annual salary for the next two seasons and his comparable recent performance to Detroit’s goalies make him a less appealing choice. Gustavsson, at 25, has a more favorable $3.75 million salary over the next two seasons, but his inconsistent performance last season raises questions about his reliability.
Recent Stanley Cup history suggests that developing homegrown goaltenders is more successful than trading for them. In the last 12 seasons, only one team, the Vegas Golden Knights with Adin Hill, has won the Cup with a traded goalie. The majority of winning teams have relied on goalies they drafted, highlighting the importance of developing in-house talent for long-term success.
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