Yzerman on Cossa: ‘Not Prepared Today to Put Him in the NHL’

Sebastian Cossa is billed as the Detroit Red Wings’ goalie of the future, but the future may not start next season in Detroit.

“We are looking for him to take another step. I’m not prepared today to put him in the NHL,” GM Steve Yzerman said in his season wrap-up press conference last Monday. “He had a very, very good first two-thirds of the season. His play dipped a little bit after the American League All-Star break and this is a big playoff for him.”

Griffins Need Big Game From Cossa

A few hours after Yzerman discussed Cossa’s status, Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson pulled him after he gave up four goals in a period and a half in Game 1 of a best-of-five series against the Texas Stars. The 4-0 loss certainly doesn’t fall specifically on Cossa, but it is fair to say he didn’t rise up and perform at his highest level.

Veteran Jack Campbell replaced him and gave up no goals. However, Cossa is likely to be back in the net Monday when Grand Rapids and Texas meet in Game 2 at Van Andel Arena. The Red Wings have plenty riding on Cossa’s development. Because Detroit’s goaltending was below average this season, fans hope Cossa will be ready next season. But he will only be 22 at the start of next season. You don’t see a bushel of 22-year-old goalies at the NHL level.

“He goes into his fourth year of pro next year. He does not need waivers to go down in the minors if need be next year,” Yzerman said.

It may sound like Yzerman is planning on Cossa spending another season in Grand Rapids, but he adds: “Potentially I’m not ruling anything out.”

“But he’s gonna have to take another step here if we want to count on him to be here in Detroit next year,” Yzerman said. “And playoffs for him are as important as they are for… maybe more important (than) for anybody. But again, he continues to trend in the right direction. But today I’m not prepared to say he’s going to play in the NHL next year. He’s got to do more. “

Piecemeal Plan

If Cossa isn’t ready for next season, it means Yzerman must embrace another short-term fix to improve the goaltending.  At the trade deadline, Yzerman acquired Petr Mrazek with the hope that he might be part of the answer. He didn’t distinguish before getting hurt.

 “We need the goalies to stop the puck more,” Yzerman said. “We look at Cam (Talbot’s) season (21-19-5, 2.91, .901) and I think he did very well. We’re pleased with it, he met expectations for us.”

It seems likely the Red Wings won’t re-sign Alex Lyon. The team is also in the midst of changing goalie coaches. They are waiting for Sebastian Cossa to be ready, and hope MSU goalie Trey Augustine, another prospect, will be right behind him.

“In the interim,” Yzerman said, “we’ll continue to explore.  It’s for the trade market, free agencies, see if there’s somebody that comes along in the interim for that.”