mlive
The Detroit Red Wings once highly touted goaltender of the future, who they traded up eight spots in the first round to draft in 2021, ended up never having started a game for them.
The Red Wings traded Sebastian Cossa Friday to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd pick in the draft, which they used to select high-scoring Michigan-bound winger J.P.
Hurlbert.
General manager Steve Yzerman, speaking to the media Saturday after the draft, didnt indicate why the organization soured on the 6-6 goalie.
He cited organizational depth at the position and the opportunity to address a different need as factors for the decision.
Ive been at this long enough now to know things can change over time and your needs change, Yzerman said.
Its not necessarily that we had given up on Sebastian Cossa.
Were looking where we are today, what we have coming in goal presently and what we have coming behind that.
Were looking to add dynamic players, and we had a chance, with the pick that we got for Sebastian, to significantly improve our prospect pool with a different type of player and still be solid in that (goaltending) spot.
So, obviously, where we picked Sebastian at the time, we had very high hopes for him, and hes an excellent young man.
We really enjoyed working with him.
We wish him nothing but the best of luck, and hopefully he has a great career.
But things change along the way, and you make moves and you pivot and you do what you think is right.
The Red Wings selected Cossa 15th overall and spent four seasons developing him in the minors, the past three with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
When the Griffins started Michal Postava in the playoffs, it sealed Cossas fate.
He is no longer waiver-exempt next season, and the Red Wings werent prepared to keep him on their roster.
With the goalie depth we have with John Gibson and Trey Agustine, Michael Postava, we felt well have a good solution for a backup goaltender for the Red Wings, Yzerman said.
We felt if we could get a high enough pick or prospect that we could afford to trade Sebastians rights.
And when we were able to get the 23rd pick and see the prospects we felt were going to be available at 23, we were comfortable making that move.
We wouldnt have traded Sebastian had we not been comfortable with the depth that we have in goal with Trey and Michal (Postava), Carter Gylander, (Michal) Pradel and now (Michal) Orsulak, who we drafted today.
Yzerman said several teams inquired about their goalies, Cossa, in particular.
He said theyre weighing their options for the backup role, whether thats Postava or a veteran acquisition.
Regarding Michal, were very impressed with the season he had last year and the playoffs, Yzerman said.
Having said that, its just his first year over here.
Well look at all various options leading into free agency (starting Wednesday) and the off-season and decide what is the best option.
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