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Red Wings Trade Up To Get Goaltender Cossa 15th Overall In NHL Draft

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3 years ago

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Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman traded up to grab Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa with the 15th pick of the NHL entry draft

Sebastian Cossa’s confidence level might loom almost as large as his towering frame. Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman swapped first-round picks with the Dallas Stars in order to grab Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Cossa with the 15th pick of the 2021 NHL entry draft.

The move made Cossa the first goaltender selected in the draft – exactly as it should be, according to Cossa.

“I thought I had a strong season,” Cossa said. “My play kind of earned it for me. The confidence I have in my game, I think I’m going to be the best goalie in the draft. “

I think I got picked where I should be.”

At 6-foot-6, 210 poiunds, Cossa is a towering presence between the pipes. He posted a WHL-leading .941 save percentage in 19 games last season.

“When I’m at the top of my crease, there’s not a lot to shoot at,” Cossa said. “Still recognizing that and patterning my game after that. My hands don’t have to move as much. My depth control is a big focus part for me.

“There’s bigger holes with bigger goalies but when I’m seeing the puck very well I definitely use my size to my advantage.”

Shoring Up The Net

It took Yzerman all of two days to shore up his goaltending situation. A day after acquiring 2021 Calder Trophy finalist Alex Nedeljkovic from the Carolina Hurricanes, he added a top netminding prospect on the first night of the draft.

“We think he’s got a chance to be a really good goaltender in the National Hockey League,” Yzerman told Sportsnet. “Yesterday, we acquired Alex Nedeljkovic, a 25-year-old goaltender. We felt that an 18-year-old prospect, with Alex in net in Detroit, we’ve got a great young prospect that we just can be patient with and let him develop and potentially have really solidified the goaltending position in Detroit.”

Asked about about Nedeljkovic’s presence in Detroit, again Cossa’s confident nature kicks into gear.

“They signed him for a two-year deal,” Cossa said. “I can’t speak on what their plans are with him, but I think my future, I want to be a top goalie in this league. Whoever they sign today, in a couple years down the road, I don’t think it’ll matter.”

The scouting report on Cossa is that he couples tremendous athleticism with his hulking size.

Athletic Netminder

“He’s a massive unit in the crease who leaves very little to shoot at due to his immense size and net coverage,” Draft Prospects Hockey director Dan Stewart said. “He has impressive athletic movements for a lanky 6-6 guy, battles for his space, tracks the puck, utilizing his height well, aggressively comes out to close off angles and seals of posts, is focused following the play and exhibits solid rebound control.

“His game has grown at a rapid pace in the past two years and Yzerman likely has his goalie of the future who will battle with newly acquired Nedeljkovic in a year or two.”

The Red Wings traded picks 23, 48 and 138 to the Stars in exchange for No. 15, which they utilized to tab Cossa.

He gravitated to the next as a novice and never left.

“I love the pressure,” Cossa said. “I love the stress that comes with it. Obviously, I don’t get stressed, but just the pressure of being that last guy back there and kind of being the villain or the hero, I love that.”

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