The Detroit Red Wings have signed Joe Veleno to a two-year deal worth an average annual value (AAV) of $2.275 million. This contract triggers a 48-hour buyout window for the team, allowing them to terminate contracts exceeding an AAV of $4 million. This development has prompted speculation about which players the Red Wings might consider buying out to create additional roster flexibility.
Currently, the Red Wings have four goalies on their roster. They added veterans Jack Campbell and Cam Talbot during the 2024 free agency period. Both are over 30 and will bring experience to the net as Detroit aims for a Stanley Cup playoff return. Campbell, who was the starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers for a brief period in the 2023-24 season, saw the Oilers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Ville Husso is another goalie on the Red Wings’ roster. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a third-round draft pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Husso had a mixed performance with Detroit. At 27 years old, he struggled in 2022 with the Blues but signed a three-year contract with Detroit at an AAV of $4.75 million.
Alex Lyon, another goalie with one year remaining on his contract, had a more stable 2023-24 season compared to Husso. Lyon played 44 games, recording a 21-18-5 record with a goals-against average of 3.05 and a save percentage of .904. His cap hit for the 2024-25 season will be $900,000.
If the Red Wings opted to buy out Husso’s contract, the salary cap hit would be reduced to 2/3 of his AAV, but the term would extend. For Husso, this would mean a cap hit of approximately $3.17 million spread over two years instead of the remaining year on his contract. This would free up $1.58 million this season but incur a $3.17 million cap hit next season. Husso’s 2024-25 salary will be nearly double that of Talbot’s.
Husso has expressed his hope to recover fully from a lower-body injury that limited his play to 19 games during the 2023-24 season. He acknowledged the challenges of the injury and the mental strain but is optimistic about his recovery. “It was a really tough year injury-wise, and I guess at the end, it was even mentally [tough] too,” Husso said. “It’s hard not to play… But I’ll be healthy for next year.”
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman had indicated that addressing the goalie situation was a priority before free agency, especially as prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine continue to develop within the team’s system.
Additionally, the Red Wings have two restricted free agents, defenseman Moritz Seider and left-winger Lucas Raymond, who still need to be signed. With over $17.5 million in salary cap space, Detroit aims to secure both players, who are crucial to the team’s future. Raymond, in particular, played a significant role in pushing the Red Wings toward the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, though the team was eliminated on the final day of the season by the Washington Capitals.
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