State of the Red Wings: Goalie Battle Looming

The Detroit Red Wings had to adapt on the fly last season when it came to their goalies. 

They started  the season with Ville Husso as the unquestioned starter and Alex Lyon languishing on the bench. 

After Husso suffered the first of several lower-body injuries, James Reimer temporarily took on a bigger role, only to give way to Lyon before Reimer made a couple of key starts at the end of the season.

In this year’s goalies picture, Reimer is gone, having signed with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent. The Red Wings also, as of now, have moved on from Michael Hutchinson, who played in one game with them last season while spending the rest of the season in Grand Rapids. He’s a free agent.

The Wings have two solid prospects in net in Sebastian Cossa and Michigan State goalie Trey Augustine. Neither are expected to be ready for at least one year (Cossa) or two (Augustine). 

They’ve added two goalies in the offseason: Cam Talbot, late of the Los Angeles Kings, and Jack Campbell, who flamed out spectacularly after signing a huge contract with Edmonton.

Here’s a look at each of the Wings’ goalies:

Cam Talbot

Age: 37

Height:  6-4 Weight: 200

NHL Experience: 11 seasons

Last year: 2.50 GAA, .913 save percentage, 27-20-6 record

Talbot signed a two-year deal with the Red Wings and brings a solid resume to Detroit. He struggled in the Kings’ loss to Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs, with a 5.30 GAA. But he likely won’t face an offense like the Oilers all that often in the Eastern Conference. One area of concern is Talbot’s age. The Wings are counting on Talbot’s ability so far to avoid injury, which can become problematic the closer a player gets to 40. If he can stay off then injured list and play to his career totals of 2.63 GAA and a .913 save percentage, he will make a bid to be No. 1. The Red Wings would like to see him grab the No. 1 spot. The Red Wings would like to see anyone grab the starter’s job and play consistently well. 

Ville Husso

Age: 29

Height: 6-3 Weight :205

NHL Experience: 4 seasons

Last year: 3.55 GAA, .892 save percentage, 9-5-2 record

Husso started the season as the Wings’ No. 1 goalie, then suffered lower-body injuries that limited him to one game after Christmas. If Husso can avoid a recurrence of those injuries this season, he still will have to improve on his numbers during his two seasons in Detroit to enhance the team’s fortunes. With a cap number of $4.75 million, he’ll have to improve to stay with the Red Wings after his contract expires next summer. 

Alex Lyon

Age: 31

Height: 6-1 Weight: 195

NHL Experience: 7 seasons

Last year: 3:05 GAA, .904 save percentage, 21-18-5 record

Lyon hadn’t played more than 15 NHL games in a season before last year, and started the season anchored to the bench. But he bided his time and made the most of his opportunity. He could be trade bait for both his performance and his salary ($900,000 on an expiring contract). He also end up as Detroit’s No. 1 goalie or the primary backup. It’s difficult to project where Detroit’s goaltending will play out. But the Red Wings appreciate what Lyon did for the team last season and he will get a chance to prove he can be the guy. 

Jack Campbell

Age: 32

Height: 6-3 Weight: 2

NHL Experience: 9 season

Last season:  At Bakersfield (AHL) 2.63 GAA, .918 save percentage, 18-13-1 record

Campbell is a Port Huron native who is both well-traveled and experienced in the ups and downs of professional hockey. He went from making the All-Star team in 2022 with Toronto to being sent to the minors by Edmonton last fall. His fall was precipitous, going from a $5,000,000 deal with the Oilers to $775,000 with the Wings. Campbell is looking for a fresh start in Detroit that will likely begin in Grand Rapids, where he will also team with Cossa as Hutchinson did last year. Campbell is a longshot to play in Detroit, but could boost his prospects elsewhere with a strong season.