It's official: Detroit Red Wings rookie goaltender Michal Postava has earned his first official NHL start.
Per @DetroitRedWings head coach Todd McLellan, Michal Postava will make his first NHL start in net tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. #LGRW
October 26, 2026Postava, 24, made his NHL debut last week, filling in for the Vancouver Canucks in the team's 5-2 win. He earned a call-up to the NHL following a day-to-day injury from Daniil Tarasov. It certainly helped to see Postava start off the season with a jaw-dropping .954 save percentage and 1.25 goals against with the Grand Rapids Griffins, as well.
Postava will make his first official NHL start against the Edmonton Oilers, headlined by NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid. It will be a trial by fire, to be sure, given the Oilers' +10 goal differential. Should Postava rise to the occasion, he might even force the Red Wings to consider moving a goaltender to keep him up full-time.
One reason Postava didn't start against Calgary
On paper, it makes more sense to have given Postava a start against the Calgary Flames instead of the seemingly relentless Oilers. The Flames are currently 4-6-0 and have a -16 goal differential. Hindsight is hindsight, though -- the Red Wings went on to lose the game 4-1. While it's nice to imagine things would've gone differently were Postava in the net, due to NHL rules, he couldn't start the game.
Postava is considered an emergency call-up under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This means that he doesn't count against the Red Wings' roster limit of 25 players. Until backup goaltender Daniil Tarasov's injury was formally announced, Postava couldn't start a game, as both Tarasov and John Gibson were considered healthy. With Tarasov officially day-to-day now, however, Postava is free to start.
It's a little confusing, to be sure, but it explains why Postava didn't earn the start in Calgary.
What to expect from Postava's first NHL start
As exciting as it can be to see a rookie finally make his debut, it's important to temper those expectations. Postava is going up against the Oilers, one of the top teams in the league. The Red Wings are on the tail end of a grueling west coast road trip. They're almost certainly going to be a little tired coming into the game. In order to have a successful night, Postava will need to both meet and exceed all expectations surrounding him.
That said, a tough game isn't an indictment of his NHL prospects.
There are times where backup goaltenders play like they're prime Dominik Hasek and times where Vezina winners look unplayable. Goaltending is the most unpredictable position in hockey. There's just as much a chance that Postava steals a big win as there is a tough night. It's important to not turn his night into a takeaway about his long-term prospects, no matter how the evening goes.
For now, let's celebrate the fact that the Red Wings are finally letting their young players break through.
Add us as a preferred source on Google