Sebastian Cossa isn’t fighting for a roster spot in this year’s Red Wings training camp and preseason.
With three NHL starting goaltenders on the roster, there just isn’t space for him to even try. Perhaps next season, this will be different, but until then, Cossa can only continue working to develop. But that does not devalue what Cossa can gain from these preseason reps.
“It’s important to get these games,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said Saturday. “I go back to last year. He played third period in Washington and played well, so I thought that was valuable for him. So I think the process — camp, practice, goalie drills and then game looks I think, a very valuable form. So more than anything, just valuable experience.”
Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Experience is much needed for Cossa, the Hamilton, Ontario native who teammates nicknamed “Seabass.” He has only played around 85 minutes of NHL competition over four games in the past three preseasons. In other words, he hasn’t played a whole lot, and when he has, he hasn’t gotten a lot of ice time. Only once did Cossa play more than one single period in a preseason game — in 2022, against Pittsburgh, when he stopped 11 of 12 shots across 29:19 of ice time. His most intense workload came in the Washington game Lalonde referenced, when he stopped 12 of the 14 shots he faced while relieving Alex Lyon in the third period.
If Detroit envisions Cossa as the starter of the future, then getting him NHL reps is essential. Starting goaltenders can’t just be good in limited bursts — they have to deliver with regularity. And that consistency, through an abundance of appearances, is what the Red Wings are getting Cossa accustomed to. It’s why he’s slated to be Grand Rapids’ primary starter this season, building on his record-breaking 19-game unbeaten streak last season.
Extra Reading: Prospect Roundup: Sebastian Cossa Breaking Records in AHL]
All the while, Detroit has to balance its NHL needs, too. The Red Wings have three goaltenders battling for the NHL starter’s net, and Detroit wants to give them ample reps for someone to prove they are deserving of the job. This makes getting Cossa into games a little tricky, and getting him into more than the rare period even harder. But so long as Cossa is getting these opportunities, he can learn from them.
Even if Cossa can’t boast a wealth of NHL experience, he can point to success in his limited reps. In those four combined appearances, he let in three goals on a combined 44 shots. The caveats are that he has played mostly short bursts that allow him to stay fresh, and the skill present in a preseason game pales in comparison to an actual NHL matchup. So naturally, the next step is to get Cossa acclimated against tougher competition, hence what Lalonde said about experience.
So far this preseason, Cossa has already played a full period — a 10-save shutout in Chicago to open the preseason. He was scheduled to play the third period of Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh. However, it is unclear how the game’s rescheduling will affect him given that Detroit is splitting its roster between the Penguins game and a road game in Buffalo at the same time. It’s likely that Cossa will play a period in at least one of the games; it’s just a question of which one.
All of these appearances are building up to an opportunity for Cossa to get to the NHL, a future that could be rather near. Detroit has three goaltenders at the NHL level right now — Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon and Ville Husso — but only Talbot is signed through next season. There’s a spot open for Cossa as soon as next season, so long as he proves he is ready for it. Getting used to NHL competition now, combined with an increased workload in Grand Rapids, could prepare Cossa to claim the backup spot a year from now.
As much as Cossa’s appearances right now might not hold the same weight as a goaltender fighting for an NHL roster spot, they are just as important to Detroit’s long-term future. Should he continue to succeed, and with a strong upcoming season with the Griffins, Cossa might be playing under different stakes this time next year.
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