Ville Husso
A Finnish netminder who evolved from an AHL standout to an NHL starter before landing with the Ducks.
Ville Husso is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks, though his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings remains a distinct chapter of his career. Born on February 6, 1995, in Helsinki, he began his path at HIFK before signing an entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues on May 10, 2016. After developing through their system and earning a starting role during the 2021–22 season, Husso was traded to Detroit on July 8, 2022, at the NHL Entry Draft in exchange for a third-round pick.
- Position
- Goaltender
- Nationality
- Finnish
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Husso's journey to Detroit began after a breakout 2021–22 season in St. Louis, where he took over as the primary starter mid-season while Jordan Binnington struggled. He finished that year with a 25–7–6 record and a .919 save percentage. Despite his success, questions about his future arose because Binnington held a long-term contract while Husso was set to become a free agent. The Blues traded him on July 8, 2022, for a third-round draft pick. Immediately upon arriving in Detroit, he signed a three-year, $14.25 million contract. His start with the Red Wings was explosive: on October 14, he made 29 saves to record a shutout in a 3–0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
In Their Own Story
The momentum of Husso's early Detroit tenure was defined by that opening-night performance against Montreal. On October 14, he stood tall in net, stopping every shot he faced for a perfect 29-save shutout. This win set a high bar for his time with the franchise. However, his time in Detroit did not last the full contract term. In the midst of the 2024–25 season, while splitting time between the Red Wings and their AHL affiliate, he was traded again. On February 25, 2025, Detroit sent Husso to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. Unlike his previous moves, this transaction saw him immediately assigned to the AHL's San Diego Gulls rather than starting in the NHL.
Reader's Guide
For fans tracking Husso's career path, note that he was never drafted; he signed as an undrafted free agent with St. Louis in 2016 after excelling in Finland's Liiga, where he won the Urpo Ylönen Award in 2015–16. His NHL debut win came on January 31, 2021, against the Anaheim Ducks, and his first shutout followed on May 12, 2021, versus the Minnesota Wild. During his playoff run with St. Louis in 2022, he served as a backup until an injury to Jordan Binnington during the second round forced him back into the net against Colorado, though the team fell in six games.
Did You Know?
- Husso won the Urpo Ylönen Award as Liiga Goaltender of the Year in the 2015–16 season with a .927 save percentage.
- He recorded his first NHL shutout on May 12, 2021, in a 4–0 win over the Minnesota Wild.
- Husso was traded to Detroit on July 8, 2022, specifically during the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
- He served as the backup goaltender for Finland's gold-winning junior team at the 2014 World Junior Championships.