Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman addressed the team’s need for an elite goaltending prospect by moving up in the 2021 NHL draft Friday to grab Sebastian Cossa.
Cossa, 6-foot-6, 212-pounder, posted a 17-1-1 record with a 1.57 GAA and .941 save percentage in 19 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League.
GRADE:Why Wings get a C for trading up to pick Sebastian Cossa in NHL draft
The Wings acquired the pick from the Dallas Stars for No. 23 (from the Anthony Mantha trade with Washington), No. 48 (second round) and No. 138 (fifth round).
With the No. 6 overall pick, the Wings picked Swedish defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
Cossa, 18, is an athletic goalie who moves quickly from side to side and from butterfly position to standing up. By size alone, he doesn’t give opponents much net to shoot at (in butterfly pose, his shoulders still reach the crossbar). He’s good at getting to pucks behind his net and making passes to his teammates.
ANOTHER GRADE:Red Wings get a B for drafting Simon Edvinsson at No. 6 overall
REACTIONS:Red Wings fans optimistic about Edvinsson but may have preferred another
Cossa boasts enviable size and skill and athleticism. He played 33 games for the Oil Kings in 2019-20, posting a .921 save percentage and 2.23 GAA. The pandemic denied him a shot at playoff hockey the past two seasons, but that should change next year. He projects to compete for Team Canada at the World Juniors next season. He’ll need time to work on his game, but Cossa could be a potential franchise goaltender.
The Wings selected him over fellow goaltending prospect Jesper Wallstedt. He went No. 20 to Minnesota.
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