The NHL transfer deadline is approaching. Ville Husson’s trade may bury St. Louis’ hopes for success in the spring playoffs, writes Tommi Seppälä, NH Sport’s journalist for Urheil.
The NHL transfer deadline is now 34 days away. The last player trades must be made on March 21 at 22:00 Finnish time.
In Finnish terms, the transfer limit is especially interesting this season, especially through two goalkeepers. St. Louis Ville Husso as well as Columbus Joonas Korpisalo are both hot names in the spring transfer market.
Of course, the Helsinki guards, who are familiar to each other from the young national teams, come to the situation from very different starting points.
Korpisalo was a hot name in the NHL market six years ago. Surprisingly, Columbus, who rose to play as a goalkeeper at the time through injuries, was delighted with his mature grip on the second-generation top hockey player. Not only did Korpisalo play well, but he played at a really good NHL level.
Husso, who was slowly rushing behind, was still playing at IFK Helsinki at the time.
After six years, however, the situation has turned almost completely on its head. Husson taival Blues, who started their journey from farm to farm in North America, has been anything but easy, but right now the HIFK breeder is the hottest goalkeeper in the entire NHL.
For goalkeepers who have played at least fifteen matches, Husso’s rebound percentage is the best in the entire league, as is the average number of goals scored. Husso has also been the best brewer in the series at dangerous finish points. GSAA statistics +14.75 is enough for sixth place.
GSAA statistics measure how many goals a goalkeeper blocks in relation to the league average.
Husso simply robbed the pitch of the Blues ’number one guard From Jordan Binnington, which in fact became invited from the farm before Husso in January 2019 only because the Finnish hammer was injured. Binnington, who played fabulously later that spring, celebrated his Stanley Cup victory with the Blues.
Now Husso has pushed back ahead of Binnington. To be honest, the Canadian guard has not made the situation difficult for Husso.
Binnington, who signed a six-year-long follow-on contract with the club less than a year ago, has played really poorly throughout the season. Right now, Husso is the team’s clear number one goalkeeper.
What is problematic for the Blues, however, is that Husson’s contract is coming to an end and this will even become an unlimited free agent.
In the summer, Finns are free to choose their new employer on the market. This, in turn, means that the club should trade Husso in March if it wants to get even some compensation for the development work it does.
The situation is contradictory for the Blues: on the other hand, Husso has played its resale value in the clouds, but at the same time, for the team’s playoff dreams, Husso’s departure would be a major setback. Right now, there is nothing to suggest that Binnington would suddenly find his game before spring in the middle of a really difficult season.
Husso will certainly have enough demand if Blues wants to “pull the trigger.”
If only a buyer can be found
The situation in Korpisalo below the transfer border is very different.
The ultimate breakthrough for the NHL elite has never come after a good start, although he is still recognized in many places as a potential NHL watchdog. For the previous two seasons, the cold truth is that Korpisalo has been one of the weakest goalkeepers in the NHL.
If the limit is set to 30 matches played, Korpisalo’s rebound percentage (89.1) and average goals scored (3.48) will be the weakest in the entire series for this and the previous season. In the GSAA column of advanced statistics, Korpisalo’s reading (-12.36) is the second weakest in the series for the periods 2020–2021 and 2021–2022.
Korpisalo has clearly lost the team’s internal fight To Elvis Merzlikins. In the autumn, the Latvian signed a new five-year extension agreement with the club, which helped to seal the fate of Korpisalo in the city.
It is clear that extracts from the previous two periods have significantly reduced the resale value of Finns. The situation is certainly difficult for both the club and the player whose game is no longer passing. Korpisalo needs a new beginning in his career, but is there a taker, and is Korpisalo still believed to be a starting goalkeeper?
If only a buyer can be found, Columbus would like to make a solution that is easier for both parties.
Korpisalo will become an unlimited free agent in the summer, like Husso, so the time for player trading is now. Compensation for a 27-year-old Finnish hammer is not what it could have been before.
However, Korpisalo, who has served faithfully and has always taken responsibility for the difficulties himself, would like to start a new beginning in an environment where responsibility would also be available.
Edmonton needs a goalkeeper
Where could Finnish goalkeepers end up? Speculation is an endless swamp because there are so many factors in the equation. If potential playoff teams are considered, Edmonton and Washington are clubs that would certainly be happy to strengthen their goalie divisions.
However, the Finns are still in the spring I think of unseen cards. Husso has not played a minute of the NHL playoffs and Korpisalo’s performance in the previous two seasons does not directly promise a strong spring mood.
However, it is likely that still during this season, the duo will play NHL puck in a new jersey.