The Daily: Should Red Wings Be Concerned About Husso?; Nedeljkovic Goes on LTIR, Hellberg Gets Recall

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was kind of sitting with one leg on each side of the fence while discussing the work so far this season of Ville Husso, the team’s No. 1 netminder.

On the one hand, Lalonde was praising Husso’s performance in a couple of games, notably the first period of Saturday’s 5-2 win at Ottawa, citing Husso’s 35 saves as a key in that victory.

Goaltender Ville Husso has started his second year with the Red Wings, and the transition into the new season has gone smoother this time after spending the summer in Detroit training with teammates.#LGRW I @ThinkFordFirst pic.twitter.com/Iam19g1gyj

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 25, 2023

At the same time, Lalonde was also brutally honest about Husso’s overall performance level so far this season. “His numbers are not great,” Lalonde pointed out. “Probably in the bottom of the league in save percentage and goals-against.”

In reality Husso is currently 42nd in the NHL in both GAA (3.38) and save percentage (.893). There are 14 goalies in each category showing worse numbers than his.

James Reimer is getting the start for Detroit Thursday at home against the Winnipeg Jets. Lalonde was cautioning not to read anything into this decision, saying it was the plan all along for Reimer to start this game during a busy week of games for Detroit.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• NHL goal-scoring leader Alex DeBrincat is battling illness and is an uncertain starter for the Red Wings on Thursday
• Detroit’s Shayne Gostisbehere shares the NHL scoring lead among defensemen with Colorado’s Cale Makar
• Some puzzling officiating decisions may have cost Detroit a point in Tuesday’s 5-4 OT loss to Seattle
• The Swedish junior team was naming Detroit prospects Axel Sandin Pellikka and Anton Johansson to the roster for an upcoming tourney in the Czech Republic

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit is playing host to the Jets at 7 p.m. ET at LCA. The Red Wings are 2-1 vs Winnipeg in the last three games overall, as well as in the last three games played in Detroit.

Atlantic Division

Boston: The Boston Bruins were opting to place veteran defenseman Ian Mitchell on waivers.

Montreal: Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard was getting props from of all places, the Pat McAfee Show.

Florida: Are the Florida Panthers looking to acquire a defenseman from the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Ottawa: Did the NHL make the correct decision in rescinding the suspension to Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk for his instigator penalty from a late-game fight on Tuesday with Buffalo’s Alex Tuch?

Buffalo: The Buffalo Sabres are keeping tabs on the progress of UFA Patrick Kane in his recovery from hip surgery in the hope that he might consider signing with his hometown team.

Toronto: William Nylander and John Tavares have hit the scoresheet for the Toronto Maple Leafs in every game this season.

Tampa Bay: The stars of the Tampa Bay Lightning keep shining. Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman are all averaging a point per game so far this season.

Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh: Former Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic is going on LTIR and the Pittsburgh Penguins are replacing him with former Red Wings goalie Magnus Hellberg.

The Penguins have placed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic on injured reserve and re-assigned forward Radim Zohorna to the @WBSPenguins.

Goaltender Magnus Hellberg and forward Corey Andonovski have been recalled from WBS. pic.twitter.com/Lh0KIpVVeC

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 25, 2023

Philadelphia: Defenseman Cam York was shouldering the blame for the Philadelphia Flyers road loss to the Cup champ Vegas Golden Knights.

Carolina: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce is out 2-4 weeks after undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury.

Washington: Former Red Wings Anthony Mantha and captain Alex Ovechkin were scoring as the Washington Capitals beat New Jersey.

Islanders: Three issues to consider from the three-game losing streak of the New York Islanders.

New Jersey: The NHL media was busy boarding the Connor Bedard hype train when New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes was moving those simple minds with his rendition of don’t you forget about me.

Chicago: The kids are holding their own for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche have won an NHL-record 15 straight road games.

San Jose: The 0-5-1 San Jose Sharks have lost winger Alexander Barabanov for several weeks with what San Jose Hockey Now is reporting to be a broken finger.