3 Red Wings With The Most To Prove In 2023-24

The Detroit Red Wings are a team on the rise after the additions they made this offseason, but they have a relatively young team and lots to prove. The three players in particular that have the most to prove either struggled last season or signed questionable contracts. Let's check them out.

Ville Husso

Ville Husso really shined in his first real shot in the NHL at age 26 for the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22 which made teams notice him as he was too expensive to keep around. The Red Wings were the team that decided to lock up the relatively inexperienced goalie at $4.75 million AAV for three years and as the team struggled defensively, Husso's numbers were not very good. As the starter, his save percentage dropped from .919 to .896 and even though he had some very good games, he will have to be better overall if the Red Wings are going to make the playoffs. The question is, can he be a number one goalie or will James Reimer/Alex Lyon have to take a large portion of the weight off of him?

Klim Kostin

Klim Kostin thought that what the Edmonton Oilers offered him this offseason was too little for what he did, but that's all they could afford and he was even a healthy scratch at times. With that, the Oilers traded him to the Red Wings and they got him signed for two years at $2 million AAV. Detroit took a chance on him and he will be playing bottom-six minutes, but he has to prove he's worth the investment and the chance taken by the Red Wings.

Justin Holl

The Toronto Maple Leafs' whipping boy on defense recently has been Justin Holl despite him making just $2 million AAV. He does have some lapses and his mistakes stand out, but despite that, the Red Wings saw positives in him and needed to fill the right side of their defense. He signed a larger deal and gets a fresh start, but will also have to prove it with the role he'll be put in. He doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot with three years on his contract.