The Daily: WJC Opens with Red Wings Prospect Sebastian Cossa on Bench

Coach Dave Cameron chose Dylan Garand over Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa for Canada’s opening  game against the Czechs at the World Junior Championships (7 p.m., NHL Network).

TSN’s Mark Masters wrote New York Rangers’ prospect Garand  “has a real chance to run with the job.” 

“Generally, guys don’t get benched for [good] play,” Cameron said. “He’s got the net and he’s going to want to keep it.”

It’s disappointing for Red Wings fans wanting to watch the 6-foot-7 Sebastian Cossa in net for Canada. He was the 15th overall pick in last summer’s draft. Garand was a fourth rounder in 2020.

Defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a Red Wings’ prospect, will play for Canada against the Czechs. Red Wings prospect goalie Jan Bednar may play for the Czechs. They plan to rotate goalies

Other Detroit prospects playing today:

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson and forward Theodor Niederbach will play for Sweden against Russia at 4 p.m. (NHL Network)

Carter Mazur and Red Savage are the only Detroit Red Wings’ prospect in the lineup today for USA when it meets Slovakia in its opening game of the World Junior Championship in Edmonton today at 9:30 pm, ET (NHL Network). The IIHF didn’t suspend Savage for his head hit against Finland’s Joakim Kennel in a pre-tournament game.

This will cost Red Savage a game or two. https://t.co/pYbbZ9Uwn6

— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) December 23, 2021

Rumors of the Day

Hockey Now’s Trade Bait lists Mark Giordano and Jake DeBrusk, among others. Who is No. 1?

Around the NHL

Detroit: Even though there were no games yesterday, the NHL and Red Wings have history of playing on Christmas Day.

Also, former Red Wings player Bobby Ryan announced  he won’t be playing in the Spengler Cup because it has been cancelled because of too many positive Covid tests.

Boston: What the Bruins were doing over Christmas

Florida: What’s next for the Panthers as they get back to business this week.

Vancouver: Rob Simpson tells us what the Canucks had on their holiday wish list.