Red Wings Top Goalie Prospect Sebastian Cossa Gets The Call After Dominating AHL

The Detroit Red Wings (and head coach Derek Lalonde) are skating on thin ice this season, trying to stay relevant in the playoff hunt. But they took a potentially huge blow on Sunday with an injury to Cam Talbot, whose absence, if extended, could send the Wings "off a cliff," per Bob Duff in Detroit Hockey Now. Talbot has been their rock in goal, with a 2.73 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

But as they say, "one man's misery is another man's fortune", and in this case, the fortunate one is Detroit's top goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa. The 6'7" netminder has been recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he's been dominating the AHL.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled goaltender Sebastian Cossa from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/qsuuGJNTXN

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 2, 2024

The recall is under "emergency conditions" as both of the Wings' regular goalies are now hurt. But Cossa has a chance to make a name for himself in the NHL for the first time. 

The 22-year-old was the Wings' 2021 first-round draft pick (No. 15 overall), and this season in the AHL has posted a 9-4-1 mark with a 2.21 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. Cossa is getting his first NHL call-up after spending the entire 2023-24 campaign with the Griffins and performing almost as well, with a 22-9-9 record, a 2.41 GAA, and a .913 Sv%. 

After being drafted, Cossa led the Edmonton Oil Kings to the WHL championship in 2022. 

His 15th overall selection in that 2021 Draft made him the 13th-highest-drafted goalie in NHL history. 

He'll at least be on the bench for the first time in an NHL uniform for the Wings' next game Tuesday in Boston against the Bruins.

Photo: © Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images