GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Michal Postava was an unknown last season.
An undrafted free agent signing out of Czechia, he was supposed to be an afterthought. But for the last seven months, he's making a name for himself in the Detroit Red Wings organization.
He made 36 saves during the Grand Rapids Griffins' home opener Friday at Van Andel Arena in a 2-1 win against the Manitoba Moose. Then on Sunday, he made 22 more saves during a 5-1 win against the Chicago Wolves. He's got three wins in as many games to start the 2026-27 season.
"He was unbelievable," Griffins forward Carter Bear said after Friday's game. "He was definitely first star for us, for sure."
Postava faced just nine shots in the first period but had to weather the storm in the second, stopping 16 shots to give the Griffins a 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
But Manitoba broke the shutout early in the third when a failed defensive clear led to a turnover and a Manitoba goal.
"He's been outstanding (Friday)," Griffins coach Dan Watson said. "Without him in net, we don't win that game. He was excellent. He made some really big saves, key saves, in big moments, especially when they had all the momentum going. He held strong."
Postava's journey to Grand Rapids
The 24-year-old was signed by Detroit to a two-year, entry-level contract on June 10, 2025, after playing for HC Kometa Brno in the Czechia Extraliga. That last season, he led HC Kometa Brno to a league title, posting a 10-7 record, a 1.97 GAA and 0.940 save percentage in the playoffs.
After recovering from an injury for two months, he spent most of the 2025-26 season in Grand Rapids backing up Sebastian Cossa, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft. And he was no slouch as a backup, recording a 17-6-0-4 record in 27 games with a 1.72 GAA and a 0.937 save percentage.
Cossa was supposed to be the Red Wings goalie of the future. The Red Wings even traded up to get him, trading picks No. 23, 38 and 138 to the Dallas Stars for the No. 15 pick.
But Postava had other things in mind.
When Cossa started to slip toward the end of the regular season, Postava carried the load, sporting a 0.940 save percentage with two shutouts over his last nine starts.
That hot play earned him the starter's net to begin the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, and Cossa would never start another game for the Griffins. Postava played in all eight playoff games, posting a 2.09 GAA and a 0.912 save percentage.
The Griffins failed to make it past the second round last year, but the Red Wings learned they might have a goalie problem.
Without a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Detroit traded Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall pick and used it to select J.P. Hurlbert.
Postava off to hot start early
And over three games this season (small sample size be damned), Postava has a 1.34 GAA and a .950 save percentage, good enough to put the Griffins atop the Central Division standings — right where they left off last year.
"I'm just trying to do my best," Postava said. "Just trying to enjoy the moment and trying to help the team."
With a year of AHL experience under his belt, Postava said the goal this season is to work on small details to take his game to the next level.
Watson said the mental side of Postava's game has improved the most since Year 1, adding that his conditioning went up a level over the summer.
"We knew how athletic he was, how competitive he was," Watson said. "Now, just the mental side of it, his daily preparation, his game preparation. ... Just takes that next level of maturity."
Watson said he still anticipates spreading the starts evenly between him and Trey Augustine, at least initially.
But just like last year, if Postava starts to pull away, you can bet he'll get the majority of the starts.
"He's amazing out there," Griffins forward Cameraon Butler said. "Feel good with him backing us up. No worries."
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