Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Fingerprints All Over Top-Paid AHL Players
Holl, Gustafsson among top AHL earners
The return of defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday only served to add more evidence to the case against the number of poor contracts that Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has given to journeymen NHL players.
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’s payroll.
Topping the list of the AHL’s 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.
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.
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’s 3-2 win over Iowa#GoGRG #LGRW pic.twitter.com/VnhS00YuIa
— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) November 29, 2025
This is Holl’s 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.
An NHL executive who sees plenty of AHL games allowed that Holl is an outstanding defenseman at that level. Still, the Red Wings aren’t paying him $10.2 million over three years to help the organization win the Calder Cup.
Former Red Wings Goalie Slots In At No. 3
The next player on the list with a Red Wings connection is goalie Ville Husso of the San Diego Gulls. He’s third overall. Husso is banking $2.9 million this season, but at least this pact can’t be blamed on Yzerman.
It was Yzerman’s 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.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have assigned Erik Gustafsson to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and activated Michael Rasmussen from IR. pic.twitter.com/Q4GudHauzA
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 28, 2025
Now that he’s back in the league, Gustafsson is No. 5 on the list of highest-paid AHLers. He’s 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.
“…the Red Wings aren’t paying (Holl) $10.2 million over three years to help the organization win the Calder Cup.”
Well, Holl may actually help them do that. He had the first goal in the Griffin’s 15th win of the seson last night (15-1-1).
In addition, Tralmaks (10-2-12 and +7 in 16 games) scored the 2nd goal while MBN (4-7-11 and +6 in 12 games) had two assists as did Tuomisto (2-9-11 and +9 in 16 games).
And the Wings are getting full value out of the $775k they’re paying John Leonard because he scored the game winner and his 14th goal in 14 games (to go along with nine assists and a +/- rating of +10).
The win went to Carter Gylander who was called up from Toledo again. He’s now 4-0-1 with a 2.01 GAA and a .930 Sv% with the Griffins.
Nice job Stevie. You can’t build the Wings. May as well build GR. SMH.
The KIDS in GR is what to come, can’t have every player go straight into the NHL.
The Yzer-retirement-plan for washed up free agents. Yzerman was in the game and knows so he will try to slip a few extra dollars to these guys before they retire. Very commendable.
The very minute SY signed Holl to that contract he tossed away $10 million. Unbelievably poor signing.
Rink you and Po are right on this. I dont argue so much signing him, its the amount and the term of the contract. A one year might have been acceptable. We have been stuck with him.