Sebastian Cossa trade grades for Red Wings, Mammoth

It felt as if a Cossa trade this summer was inevitable. The former first-round pick has played in just one NHL game since being taken in the 2021 NHL Draft. And this is not due to unideal performance with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, at least for the most part.

Cossa has been the full-time starting netminder in Grand Rapids in each of the last three seasons. In each season, he has posted a save percentage of .910 or better. This past season saw him post a record of 26-8-4 with a .915 save percentage. The Griffins were the best team in the AHL for much of the regular season, as well.

However, the Red Wings front office never saw enough to make him apart of the NHL rotation. Even when veteran netminder Cam Talbot was struggling as John Gibson’s backup, he never saw the NHL. Michal Postava, a free agent signing out of the Czech league last summer, received the emergency callups when the Red Wings needed someone to fill in case of injury.

Detroit didn’t trust Cossa, and they have a very deep goaltending prospect pool. With this in mind, trading Cossa made sense. With the 23rd pick, Detroit drafted winger JP Hurlbert from the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. Hurlbert has a ton of skill and could be a future top-six winger if he pans out.

Everyone knew Detroit was going to trade Cossa. It wasn’t a closely guarded secret by any means. But they still traded from a position of strength to address their need for high-end skill in the prospect pool. All in all, this is good business from general manager Steve Yzerman.

GRADE: B+

Mammoth take chance on potential franchise goaltender

The Utah Mammoth made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, and they look like a sure bet to return in 2027. Utah got stronger after the NHL Draft, trading for Vincent Trocheck and signing Anders Lee in NHL Free Agency. Their trade for Cossa fills a need that they simply couldn’t fill in the draft or free agency.

Utah has a rather strong roster. Even without Lee and Trocheck, this is a team that can make noise in the Western Conference. Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Clayton Keller are legitimate star forwards. MacKenzie Weegar and Mikhail Sergachev led the defensive corps. What they lacked, though, was a clear No. 1 goaltender.

Karel Vejmelka has been solid for a number of years. This past season, he recorded 7.34 Goals Saved Above Expected and was worth nearly 4.5 wins above replacement, according to HockeyStats.com. These are fine numbers, but he isn’t a franchise goaltender.

Cossa did have his faults with the Griffins. Specifically, the former first-round pick had issues with consistency once the season drew to a close. In fact, his issues down the stretch were so bad that Postava claimed the starter’s net in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Despite this, Cossa has the potential to be a franchise goaltender. The tools are there, and he’s proven he’s ready for a full-time role in the NHL. Trading the 23rd pick for a goaltender with one NHL game is a steep price. However, Cossa helps this team more than anyone at the 23rd pick, or any of the goalies in this draft. It’s a bet the Mammoth can afford to take right now.

GRADE: B+