Cossa vs. Postava: How Will That Shake Out for Red Wings This Fall?

If you are wondering whether Michal Postava or Sebastian Cossa is closer to being NHL ready, you are not alone.

Red Wings coaches undoubtedly have the same question. No one will know for sure until they see them both in Detroit’s September training camp.  European hockey is a different world. It’s challenging to know how Postava’s Czech Extraliga success translates to the North American game.

The ranking of Postava and Cossa is important because unless the Red Wings acquire another NHL-caliber goalie — and that is still a possibility – then either Postava or Cossa will be the organization’s No. 3 goalie. Cam Talbot and Petr Mrazek are Detroit’s top two goalies.

Cossa, 22, has been Detroit’s goalie of the future. The Detroit 2021 first round pick (drafted 15th) just completed his third professional season. He has logged 46 games for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye and 85 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Cossa Up and Down

“He goes into his fourth year of pro next year,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said at the end of the season. “He does not need waivers to go down in the minors if need be next year. We’re looking for him to take another step. I’m not prepared today to put him in the NHL. 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. So 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 added on that day that the AHL playoffs would be important to him. The Griffins only lasted one series in the postseason, and Cossa posted a 4.51 GAA and .868 save percentage.

The AHL recently announced its All-Prospect Team, and Cossa was not on it. The goalie spot went to Cleveland’s Jet Greaves, 24,. He wasn’t even drafted. The Columbus Blue Jackets signed him as a free agent.

Postava’s Small Sample Size

Meanwhile, Postava was a dominant performer in his rookie season in the Czech top league. The Red Wings signed Postava on the basis of 59 games in Czechia’s best league. He played 42 games (23-18-0, 2.39 GAA, .920) for Brno Kometa. He went 10-7 in the postseason  (1.97, .940) to lead Kometa to a league title.

Postava is nine months older than Cossa. He turned 23 in February and Cossa doesn’t turn 23 until November. Cossa is 6-foot-6 and Postava is 6-foot-2.

Waiting in the Wings

As much as the Red Wings liked what they saw in terms of technique and athleticism, there still has to be questions and concerns. This was a player passed over in the NHL draft, and he’s only had one year in the Czech Extraliga.  Did he have on exceptional season or is this who he is?

Sorting out these two goalies isn’t where Detroit thought it would be next fall. The Red Wings presumed Trey Augustine would turn pro, and the Red Wings would have two goalies of the future starting in Grand Rapids.  They know more about him than they know about Postava because he has played for the U.S. National Team Development Program and then Michigan State.

With Jan Bednar maybe signing in Europe or with another NHL organization, that would leave Carter Gylander as the only Detroit goalie prospect under contract.

In addition to having Augustine at Michigan State, the Red Wings will also have goalie Rudy Guimond at Yale.