{"id":328839,"date":"2025-11-29T10:32:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T10:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/328839\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T10:32:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T10:32:20","slug":"ex-red-wings-dominate-top-ahl-salaries-detroit-hockey-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/328839\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Red Wings Dominate Top AHL Salaries \/ Detroit Hockey Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

The return of defenseman Erik Gustafsson<\/a> to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins<\/a> on Friday only served to add more evidence to the case against the number of poor contracts that Detroit<\/a> Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman<\/a> has given to journeymen NHL players.<\/p>\n

On a list of the 10-highest paid players currently toiling in the AHL, three of the top-five places are occupied by players that Yzerman signed while GM of the Red Wings. Two of the players remain on Detroit\u2019s payroll.<\/p>\n

Topping the list of the AHL\u2019s highest-paid performers is Griffins defenseman Justin Holl. Three summers ago, Yzerman and the Red Wings signed Holl to a three-year contract as a UFA with an AAV of $3.4 million.<\/p>\n

Holl played 111 games for the Red Wings over the past two seasons. He accounted for 2-11-13 totals and a plus-one rating. He was also assigned to the AHL Griffins to begin last season, but was quickly promoted when the club incurred injuries along the blueline.<\/p>\n

Griffins defenseman Justin Holl shares his thoughts after scoring the teddy bear toss goal for the first time plus what he saw from the team in tonight\u2019s 3-2 win over Iowa#GoGRG<\/a> #LGRW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VnhS00YuIa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

This is Holl\u2019s first AHL action since the 2017-18 season, when he was with the Toronto Marlies. He appears to have found his footing at this level. Holl shows 2-4-6 totals through 14 games, and a plus-12 rating that is second-best on the team.<\/p>\n

An NHL executive who sees plenty of AHL games allowed that Holl is an outstanding defenseman at that level. Still, the Red Wings aren\u2019t paying him $10.2 million over three years to help the organization win the Calder Cup.<\/p>\n

Former Red Wings Goalie Slots In At No. 3<\/p>\n

The next player on the list with a Red Wings connection is goalie Ville Husso<\/a> of the San Diego Gulls. He\u2019s third overall. Husso is banking $2.9 million this season, but at least this pact can\u2019t be blamed on Yzerman.<\/p>\n

It was Yzerman\u2019s former lieutenant in Detroit, Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, who was responsible. He signed former Detroit netminder Husso to a two-year pact in the summer. Verbeek acquired Husso from the Red Wings last season.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: The #RedWings<\/a> have assigned Erik Gustafsson to the AHL\u2019s Grand Rapids Griffins and activated Michael Rasmussen from IR. pic.twitter.com\/Q4GudHauzA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Now that he\u2019s back in the league, Gustafsson is No. 5 on the list of highest-paid AHLers. He\u2019s making $2 million this season in the second year of the one-way deal he got from Yzerman as a UFA in the summer of 2024.<\/p>\n

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