The Detroit Red Wings have a goalie issue. This may force their prized goalie prospect, Sebastian Cossa, into action sooner rather than later. Cossa has been recalled by the Red Wings under emergency conditions. Before the injuries that the Red Wings have had at the goalie position, the tandem of Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon have played well. These two goalies are a veteran presence as the team waits for Cossa to make his way to the Red Wings roster. Recently Lyon has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 27th.
Cossa’s Draft Pedigree
The Red Wings drafted Cossa with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft out of Hamilton, Canada. Cossa is not the only Red Wings draft pick taken in that draft currently on the Red Wings roster. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was taken nine picks before this with the ninth pick out of Onsala, Sweden. At 22 years old Edvinsson is not eligible to win the Calder Trophy as “the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.” This is because he played in 24 games during the 2023-24 NHL season.
Edvinsson has done nothing to show that he would not be one of the top candidates to win the Calder Trophy. Being paired with Moritz Seider, the last Red Wing to win the Calder Trophy, as the top defensive pair on the team, the two have been called on to bear the load of going up against the other team’s top scorers every night. This is because the Red Wings’ defensive corps behind these two leaves a lot to be desired. Before this season, Seider was paired with Ben Chiarot.
With a defensive corps such as this, any goaltender would struggle to keep the puck out of his net. Perhaps this is the reason that the Red Wings have kept Cossa in Grand Rapids as long as they did. 19-year-old Axel Sandin-Pelikka is the second-ranked defensive prospect in the Red Wings system. ASP is currently playing for Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League who won the SHL title last season. Recently, ASP was named captain of the Swedish team at the upcoming World Junior Championships.
Before this season, Seider thought that he and Edvinsson would be a “pretty cool pair for Red Wings fans.” Seider and Edvinsson have been on the ice for 324 minutes this season. In that time on the ice, the expected goals percentage for Seider and Edvinsson is 53.1%. Justin Holl and Albert Johansson rank second in minutes played as a tandem with 52.1. Johansson, who was drafted by the Red Wings with the 60th overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, is yet another rookie defenseman on the Red Wings.
Will Cossa Take the Crease?
The Red Wings started the 2024-25 NHL season with three goalies. While this is unusual, it has proven to be necessary as the NHL season unfolds. Ville Husso was placed on waivers after losing the home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 6-2. General manager Steve Yzerman did this to light a fire under his team. Husso would go unclaimed due to his salary for the 2024-25 season, $4.75 million, and his injury history. Jack Campbell went into the NHLPA Player Assistance Program in October. Since being reinstated by the NHL, Campbell has not played a game for the Red Wings.
Cam Talbot has also been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. “Cam’s getting evaluated by a doctor this afternoon, so we’ll get a little bit more feel on where he’s at [then]. Probably have a better feel in the morning.” At 37 years old, Talbot has performed well for the Red Wings. Talbot, who recently played in the 500th game of his career, has a .915 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.73. Talbot has played for eight teams over 12 seasons.
Cossa played well for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League during the 2024-25 season, particularly the AHL playoffs. In 14 appearances for the Griffin,s Cossa has a 9-4-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average, a 0.925 save percentage, and one shutout for the Griffins. These statistics are a sign that he can be successful at the AHL level, but the NHL is a different game. The next test will come when Cossa gets into an NHL game.
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Yzerman seems to take a hard line against any player under him that goes through the player assistance program is basically done playing for him. Never will see Campbell play as a Red Wing. I don’t know if he is playing for Grand Rapids. There is a disconnect between coach and Yzerman or coach and team or all 3. The team doesn’t pass well or receive passes well. Players don’t fill the lanes going into the O zone. Some forwards are small and a defensive liability. Players don’t hustle back on D. Yzerman has handcuffed the team and limited cap space with some very questionable moves.