Detroit AHL head coach Dan Watson notes goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa will be in the conversation for the Red Wings backup goalie spot
The Detroit Red Wings are heading into a pivotal season for the franchise, marking their 100th anniversary while also aiming to break free from years of playoff struggles, they haven’t reached the postseason since 2016 and have just one series win since 2012.
After rebuilding the team over the last nine years, the Red Wings have built up an elite prospect pool that will hopefully come into fruition in the near future. Goaltending has been a longstanding issue since the days of Chris Osgood and GM Steve Yzerman made a temporary fix to the problem by adding former all-star goaltender John Gibson, who is signed on for two more seasons. The long term plan includes two high end goalie prospects in Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa.
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Augustine is expected to go back to Michigan State for one or two more years. This leaves him a longer timetable than the Red Wings' 15th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft in Cossa, who may be finally nearing the jump to the NHL.
The Hockey News spoke with Grand Rapids Griffinshead coach Dan Watson and he explained to us that the uncertainty of if Cossa will be returning to the Griffins is at an all-time high.
“He's committed, dedicated, he wants to get better, he wants to be the guy, whether it's in Grand Rapids, I know he's gonna be challenging mentally for a spot in Detroit," Watson explained "We're looking for him to take that next step and be a good starting goaltender for us in Grand Rapids, If not, he's going to be in Detroit."
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Watson emphasized that another season with the Griffins would be valuable for Cossa as he would have the opportunity to handle the majority of the starts, just as he did early last season when his strong performance earned him a spot at the AHL all-star game. Veteran goaltenders like Jack Campbell and Husso would go on to limit his workload later on in the season. If he returns to Grand Rapids next season, Watson expects him to take on the bulk workload for the team.
“This year, I'd love to see him take the reins and then if he's in Grand Rapids, be the guy, get those as many starts as you possibly can where we obviously have to manage his workload and everything, but he can get a lot of starts and get to feel the puck and then see it well, like he did this our last year," Watson said "I think that's going to elevate him to that next step is being the guy in Grand Rapids."
Cossa has played 84 games with the Griffins and during that stretch has posted a 44-25-15 record with a 2.52 goals against average and a .909 save percentage. The 22-year-old Hamilton native made his NHL debut in December 2024, coming in as relief for starter Ville Husso. He stopped 12 shots and turned aside two shootout attempts against the Buffalo Sabres to secure his first career win.
Having coached Cossa throughout his time with the team, Watson knows his game better than most and noted that the two share a strong relationship.
"We have a great relationship, being with each other now for the last three seasons. I want to make sure there's invested interest with him, and I want to make sure that we do everything we can and provide the resources necessary for him to have success," Watson stated.
Cossa will likely be competing with another veteran goaltender in Cam Talbot, currently serving as Detroit’s backup, during training camp. The 38-year-old journeyman will be challenged by the youngster, setting up an intriguing storyline to watch as camp unfolds. From the sounds of it, Cossa is closer than ever to bridging the gap and claiming the role, with a slow start from Talbot potentially being the difference.
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