Preseason Games Most Critical For Ville Husso

When it comes to playing Detroit Red Wings preseason games, Ville Husso may have priority status. He should be in Group 1 when coach Derek Lalonde loads the lineup.

Husso looks fully recovered from last season’s injury problems. But he has not played a 60-minute NHL game since Dec. 12. That was more than nine months ago. He had plenty of time for rust to build up.

“He’s gonna need reps and he’s gonna need live reps and obviously we’ll get some opportunity within practice,”  Lalonde said. “..It’s something we’re conscious of as a group, not only getting him reps, but with the amount of goalies we have in rotating through, getting some really good reps and some live reps.”

Lalonde will have Sunday’s Red and White intrasquad game, plus eight preseason games to determine Husso’s readiness.

Those games are critical because Lalonde is hosting an open competition to start the season as the team’s No. 1 goalie. He has four goalies (Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell) with NHL experience.

Husso, Lyon and Talbot are the prime competitors, with Campbell projecting to at least start the season in Grand Rapids. But if the Red Wings have injuries, he certainly could end up in Detroit’s mix.

“It is a true clean slate,” Lalonde said. “I think over the last two years, all three of those goalies, when I say those three goalies, we kind of have a vision. Ville, Cam and Alex have had really nice stretches in this league. Proved they can win in this league and we’ll look for one to step up. You know, Jack has obviously done that also. So obviously we have some numbers in camp, which is a little unique, but it’s a positive.”

Two Divided by Three

The Red Wings had three goalies parent club roster last season, and it worked for them. But it comes with problems in practice because there are only two nets.

“Wasn’t ideal,” Lalonde said. “That same question you had on some reps and getting the nets at times. But again, it saved our season. So it’s going to be a healthy competition. It’s going to be wide open and it’s a clean slate.”

Husso said Saturday that he was feeling good.

“It’s always, always tough not playing, especially last year, that second injury, kind of like you just want to get out there and then you’re not ready to go,” Husso said. “But at least I got some extra time this summer rehabbing and training and stuff. So. Feel good now and excited to play some preseason games. “

Husso passed the eye test with those who saw him in the informal summer skates and the opening two days of training camp.

Having him on the ice this summer, he’s looking good, he’s back healthy,” Red Wings Alex DeBrincat said. “I think you maybe have to talk to him about how he feels, but he looks good.”

DeBrincat has seen indications of Husso being his pre-injury self.

“I think he’s back to hard to score on in practice, always battling, and I think those are the goalies that are maybe the most fun to play on in practice,” DeBrincat said. “Cause they’re always, they’re not gonna let you just put it in the net on a rebound or whatever. They’re always fighting for that rebound. He’s looked great so far. I’m excited to have him back. Hopefully, he has a little bit better luck with injuries this year, so I think he’ll be a big part of our team.