Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Expect Cossa To Start 50 Games for Griffins
Sebastian Cossa may be one of the most exciting prospects in the Detroit Red Wings system.
Cossa (15th, 2021) is the crown jewel in general manager Steve Yzerman’s revamped goalie system and has spent the past three years working his way up through the organization. The six-foot-six goalie uses his incredible size in combination with a surprising level of acrobatic prowess as the long, lean goalie contorts his body in a playstyle that almost brings to mind an alligator in the middle of twist feeding.
Last season saw the 21-year-old goalie take some massive leaps in his development and fans and pundits alike are clamoring for the young goalie to make an appearance in the Winged Wheel. But progress isn’t always linear, and the organization believes that the AHL is the best place for him to stay on the correct development path.
“He’s going to get the bulk of the workload this season. ” Coach Dan Watson said. “We’re going to give him some more challenging starts.”
Cossa certainly was challenged in his and the Griffins’ second game of the season. The Griffins fell 4-1 to the Rockford IceHogs on opposing ice.
The High:
This season Cossa started his second year as the Grand Rapids Griffins primary goalie with a revenge game. He got off to a solid start by posting Grand Rapids’ first AHL season opener shutout, and the first season opener shutout for the Griffins in 26 years. Cossa blocked 35 shots, including 15 in the final period when the Admirals pulled their goalie for the man advantage. Goals from prospects Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur had the Griffins up 2-0 over the Milwaukee Admirals, who kicked the Griffins out of the Calder Cup playoffs at the end of last year. An empty net goal from Dominik Shine put the game away 3-0 with 15 seconds left.
Game two of the season against the IceHogs did not go nearly as well. Halfway through the second period, the Griffins were down 3-0, and it could have been 4-0, with Cossa letting in three goals on 23 shots.
Bottom line: After two games, Cossa owns a 2.01 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.
The Lows:
Cossa blocked the first 12 shots before one finally found home, a floater that he thought Colton Dach might pass instead of shoot on, only to see the puck fly above his glove hand before he could properly react. Another goal was called back that came in just after time expired in the first period after Cossa overcommitted to a move off the faceoff. It left an IceHog wide open on the far side of the net and Cossa facedown on the ice with no way to recover in time. The next two goals came as the Griffins gave up two consecutive powerplays leaving them shorthanded. By the end of the period, it was 4-0. All of those goals were more than preventable.
Cossa’s incredible athleticism and size allow him to play a jaw-dropping goaltending style. He makes a save diving from quite literally behind the net to block a shot. Conversely, you’ll be shaking your head sometimes as he overcommits and relies on that athleticism to bail him out for a poor decision. Cossa is more than capable of blocking the near impossible shots, but his game needs to evolve when it comes to the barrage of low level shots he takes on a consistent starter’s workload.
Said Watson, “It wouldn’t shock me if he was in that 50 (game) range.”
This next season in Grand Rapids will give Cossa the opportunity to smooth off those rough edges and tamp down some bad decision making as the Red Wings have two NHL goalies on expiring contracts. However, Cossa will need to continue to show improvement if he plans to compete for a Detroit roster spot next season.