Ducks recall Ville Husso

The Ducks announced that they have recalled goaltender Ville Husso from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. They need to open a roster spot to complete the move. Since forwards Mikael Granlund and Ryan Poehling haven’t played in more than a week due to injuries, it stands to reason one of them will land on injured reserve to facilitate the recall. Husso’s recall was made because Lukáš Dostál will miss tonight’s game against the Canucks with an upper-body injury, but since the team only listed him as day-to-day, an IR placement, at least immediately, seems unlikely.

Husso, 30, was picked up by the Ducks from the Red Wings last year in exchange for future considerations as he finished out the final season of a three-year, $14.25MM contract in the minors. Anaheim then re-upped him on a two-year, $4.4MM extension a few days before free agency opened, a move that stands as one of the more puzzling contracts of the offseason, as he clearly profiled as the Ducks’ No. 3 goalie behind Dostál and Petr Mrázek.

So far, that’s held true. Husso cleared waivers at the beginning of the season and reported to San Diego. His $2.2MM cap hit means the Ducks are still on the hook for $1.05MM against the cap when he’s buried in the minors. For a team operating closer to the cap floor than the ceiling, that’s not much of a concern, but they’ll now be responsible for his full cap hit with him back on the active roster.

While the Finn never recaptured the heights of his breakout season with the Blues in 2021-22, he’s transitioned into being a serviceable third-stringer and has given the Ducks some good hockey since his arrival. He made four NHL appearances for them down the stretch last year, posting a 1-1-1 record with a strong .925 SV% and 2.99 GAA. Husso has also delivered as the starter this season for a San Diego squad still finding its way defensively, posting a .908 SV% and a 6-4-3 record in 13 appearances with three shutouts, tied for the league lead in that regard. Including his nine-game sample for the Gulls last year after the trade, he has five shutouts in 22 games for San Diego.

Husso may be a pricey option for a third-stringer, but he’s arguably the most established one in the league and offers a no-fuss option who’s unlikely to be lost on waivers due to his high cap hit. The 2014 fourth-round pick is now up to 145 career NHL appearances with a 71-46-19 record, seven shutouts, 3.05 GAA, and .901 SV%.

As for Dostál, the Ducks hope their budding 25-year-old star doesn’t miss more than one or two scheduled starts. While the Ducks’ two-way game has improved significantly under head coach Joel Quenneville after years of possession struggles, they’re still in the bottom half of the league in virtually every available defensive metric at 5-on-5. Dostál’s 10.1 goals saved above expected in 17 games (per MoneyPuck) have helped cover up a good portion of those warts, compiling an 11-5-1 record, .904 SV%, and 2.81 GAA in the process. Fresh off signing a five-year, $32.5MM extension, he’ll be in line for the first Vezina votes of his career if he keeps that pace up over a full season.