Red Wings: Beside Cossa, Who’s in the Goalie Pipeline?

After drafting Sebastian Cossa and trading for Alex Nedeljkovic, the Detroit Red Wings seem to have turned around the goalie situation. Nedeljkovic will be starting this year and Cossa is still quite far from making the team – who else is coming down the pipeline for Detroit?

Kaden Fulcher

Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)

2020-21 Season Stats:

Games Played: 7

Goals Against Average: 2.84 

Save Percentage: .905

W/L/T: 2-2-3

Fulcher is one of the more inexperienced goaltenders in the pipeline, yet he’s already shown flashes of talent with the Griffins this past season. In seven games, he secured a save percentage of .905 – better than any yearly average he had in the OHL.

Seven games is not nearly enough to get a full read of a goalie, but it’s promising that Fulcher was able to show some sort of competence after years of sub-.900 performances in lesser leagues. With a full schedule on the docket for the Griffins, the organization will get an extended look at Fulcher – which is convenient, considering he’s set to become a RFA at the end of the season.

Victor Brattstrom

KooKoo (Liiga)

2020-21 Season Stats:

Games Played: 38

Goals Against Average: 2.20

Save Percentage: .903

W/L/T: 18-12-7

Brattstrom has shown a decent amount of competency, but at 24 years old, time is running out to make a push to Detroit.

After failing to really prove himself in the SHL with Timra IK in 2018-19 (.898 save percentage, 2.81 in 23 starts), Brattstrom was sent down to HockeyAllsvenskan (Essentially an AHL equivalent in Sweden). He put up solid numbers in his 45 starts (.914 save percentage, 2.13 goals against average), but it wasn’t enough to regain a position in the SHL.

This past season, Brattstrom went to Finland to play in the pros, starting with Liiga’s KooKoo. Again, his save percentage and gaa were good, but not good enough for promotion. Like Fulcher, Brattstrom is becoming an RFA in the offseason. A breakout season is a must if he wants to remain with the organization.

Carter Gylander

Colgate University (NCAA)

2020-21 Season Stats: 

Games Played: 19

Goals Against Average: 2.69

Save Percentage: .901

W/L/T: 6-9-4

At just 20 years old, Gylander is one of the younger goalie prospects in the pipeline and he’s also one of the more promising.

Gylander had a good freshman year with Colgate, keeping his save percentage just above .900. There’s still quite a bit to learn about the prospect, as his only prior experience is in the AJHL. If Gylander improves in his sophomore campaign, there’s a good chance Detroit has their Keith Petruzzelli replacement – a solid college goaltender that has backup potential in the NHL.

Jesper Eliasson

EC Salzburg (ICEHL)

2020-21 Season Stats:

Games Played: 13

Goals Against Average: 2.65

Save Percentage: 916

W/L/T: 5-7-0

After failing to hit a .900 save percentage in the HockeyAllsvenskan a couple years ago, Eliasson had a good rebound year in the ICEHL, securing a .916 save percentage (Albeit in only 13 games).

This season is pivotal for Eliasson. He is finally making a full transition to the Swedish Hockey League, which will prove if his progression in 2020-21 was a fluke. It’s a sink or swim league and with his contract with Detroit coming to an end this year, his performance will directly effect his future with the organization.