Ville Husso, Alex Barre-Boulet placed on waivers

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso
Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

On Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings placed goaltender Ville Husso on waivers, while Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Barré-Boulet was also put on the wire.

Many believe the move to put Husso on waivers is to clear up cap space after Chrisitan Fischer was hurt during the Red Wings’ 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Detroit would have to call up a forward from its American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins prior to their game on Monday night against the New York Rangers.

If Husso clears waivers on Monday, he could be assigned to Grand Rapids. According to CapWages, the Wings have less than $200,000 in cap space. Whether he is sent down or gets claimed, the transaction would give the Red Wings $1.15 million in added cap space.

Husso started the season as one of the three netminders in Hockeytown. Despite playing very little in the latter half of the 2024-25 campaign due to injury, he earned the nod to start the Red Wings home opener last Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the Finnish netminder didn’t play well, allowing four goals on 14 shots.

Husso made one appearance with the Griffins on a conditioning stint last season, posting a shutout against the Belleville Senators in January. He played 19 games with the Red Wings in 2023-24, with his last game coming on Feb. 13 against the Edmonton Oilers. He posted a record of 9-5-2 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.

The 29-year-old is in the final year of this three-year, $4.75 million AAV contract he signed with the Wings in July 2022.

Barré-Boulet’s placement on waivers is planned, as the Canadiens announced they are putting the 27-year-old center on waivers for the purpose of loaning him to their primary affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

Barré-Boulet played the first two games of the season with Montreal. He averaged just over 10 minutes of ice time in the Habs’ win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and lost to the Boston Bruins, registering a plus/minus of -2.

The Montmagny, Quebec native signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Montreal after spending the last two-plus seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. In 36 games with the Bolts in 2023-24, Barré-Boulet scored six goals and nine points. In 70 career games in the NHL, he has notched 12 goals and 18 points.

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