Augustine Tells Red Wings He Will Stay At MSU

The Detroit Red Wings’ plan of having top prospect goalies Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine working through their system next season is on pause.

Augustine informed the Red Wings he is returning to Michigan State for his junior season.  Boston College’s Jacob Fowler is the other college goalie of Augustine’s caliber and he is supposed to sign with the Montreal Canadiens soon.

The Augustine story was first reported by College Hockey Newsletter publisher Mike McMahon. MLive.com reporter Ryan Zuke confirmed the story.

The Red Wings will still own his rights after his junior season.

HUGE news for Michigan State

Trey Augustine will return for his Junior season.

This team has unfinished business. https://t.co/J3Egp7AG8Y pic.twitter.com/2Q6xYwCNN5

— Drop the Mitts Hockey (@dropmittshockey) April 1, 2025

The prevailing sentiment is Augustine has nothing left to prove as a prospect. He is considered ready for professional hockey, at least at the minor league level.

Augustine (drafted 41st, 2023) showed how advanced he was last spring when he played for the men’s national team at the World Championships. He didn’t look out of place against NHL competition.It seems plausible that USA Hockey will consider him for this year’s team, depending upon which NHL goalies want to go.

Elite Prospect

Recently, TSN’s Craig Button rated him the 20th best affiliated NHL prospect.

When Cornell upset Michigan State in the opening round of the NCAA hockey tournament, it was presumed Augustine, 20, would turn professional.  It takes young goalies longer to develop. Thus, the Red Wings want the South Lyon native to get professional experience as soon as possible.  Cossa, 22, is now in his third season of pro hockey, his second season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The NHL is looking more and more at tandem goaltending. The Red Wings undoubtedly hope that Cossa and Augustine could end up on the same roster someday.

It was possible that both would have played at Grand Rapids next season.

Unless Cossa has an exceptional training camp next fall, he will probably end up in Grand Rapids.  But as the No. 3 goalie in organization, he could still end up in Detroit. There was clearly room for Augustine to play games next season in Grand Rapids.

Now, Carter Gylander and Jan Bednar are possible backups in Grand Rapids next season.

Now, the Red Wings would be looking at signing Augustine next year at this time.