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Ville Husso was eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft but was passed over, however after a terrific season in the Finnish Sm-Liiga he won’t be passed over again. Husso played for HIFK and put up a 1.99 GAA and .923 save percentage in 41 games. They were amongst the best numbers for any goalie in Europe, and for an 18-year-old playing in a men’s league, it was a remarkable season.
Husso also made the Finnish World Junior squad, but played in only two games and was ultimately the backup to Juuse Saaros as Finland won the gold medal in a thrilling overtime final. He also has international experience at the under 17 and under 18 levels.
Ville Husso
Goalie — shoots Left — glove Left
Born Feb 6 1995 — Helsinki, Finland
Height 6.02 — Weight 183 [187 cm/83 kg]
At 6’2″ Ville Husso may not be huge, but he still has good size for an NHL goalie. He plays a strong butterfly technique and shows strong positioning and comes out to challenge shooters, which makes him appear even bigger in the net. He is a good skater which allows him to challenge, while still recovering in his net on deke attempts. Husso has a very good leg push and this helps him get from side to side quickly and he tracks the puck extremely well taking away one-timer attempts and cross ice passes. His glove hand is especially strong.
Husso has very good rebound control for a young goaltender. He swallows up pucks, and those he can’t he kicks to the corners. His legs are quick and the reflexes good which takes away the bottom of the net. Husso’s puckhandling is a weakness though, as he isn’t the type of goalie to pass the puck up to his defencemen or aid in starting the transition game. He tends to stay in his net though because of this.
Husso is cool and calm in the net. He doesn’t seem to panic no matter how much pressure he is under or how big the game. He doesn’t let bad goals get to him, and bounces back quickly. He shows maturity that goes beyond his years and is a leader that his junior aged clubs have relied upon over the years.
Ville Husso’s style is reminiscent of fellow Finnish goaltender Kari Lehtonen. This is not a talent comparison, but just a stylistic one. In terms of potential, if he reaches his ceiling, he could be a number one goaltender in the NHL.
Here are some highlights of Ville Husso in action.
Come back tomorrow to check out my #56 prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft.
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