Before the dinosaurs roamed the earth, cave people discussed the age old question: should the Detroit Red Wings have taken Sebastian Cossa instead of Jesper Wallstedt?
Dramatic, sure. Yet, it seems like some Wings fans enjoy living in hindsight more than the reality.
It’s understandable to harbor jealousy of the Minnesota Wild, the team that selected Wallstedt. Hockeytown is starved for playoffs, superstar level talent and consistent play at every position. Watching a young player like Wallstedt continue to thrive while Sebastian Cossa remains in the AHL is nothing short of disappointing.
It’s insulting to both Cossa and Michal Postava, who is in his first season in North America, to continue to beat the dead horse. Life can be filled with the could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, but the reality isn’t as bad as it may seem. In fact, the Red Wings are doing great as far as their goaltending pipeline goes.
Sooner or later, though, those prospects have to graduate. The goalie that's shown the most promise thus far, however, isn't Cossa: it's Michal Postava.
Who is Griffins goalie Michal Postava?
Per Elite Prospects, Postava was born February 28, 2002 (the same year as Cossa and Wallstedt), in Czechia. Standing six-feet two inches and weighing in at 205 pounds, Postava isn’t quite as big as either Wallstedt or Cossa. Having said that, he’s not tiny by any stretch of the imagination.
Postava cut his teeth rising through the ranks of hockey in Czechia. Last season, he played 42 games for HC Kometa Brno finishing the regular season with a 2.39 goals against average (GAA) and a .921 save percentage (SV%), going 23-18-0 in the process. He appeared in 17 playoff games with a stingy 1.97 GAA and an eye-popping .940 SV% going 10-7-0.
In the regular season with the Griffins, Postava played in 25 games while boasting a 1.71 GAA and .937 SV% with a 17-6-0 record. Six losses. I repeat, he only lost six games. In his first season in North America. Even if it’s a small sample size, it’s an impressive statistic.
Cossa, on the other hand, finished the regular season with 39 games played, a 2.33 GAA, .915 SV% and 26-8-4 record. It doesn’t matter which goalie you pick for the Griffins, you're bound to be impressed.
This season, Postava began as Cossa's backup. As the season progressed, Postava’s consistency and calm presence earned him the starting role.
Luckily for Grand Rapids and Detroit fans, Postava still has another year left on his contract.
Instead of asking who might have been a better pick, maybe we can just appreciate the job that Postava is doing for the organization as a whole. He's another reliable, complete goaltender in a pipeline starved of consistency.
Here's why Postava started Game 1 in the playoffs
Bob Kaser, the voice of the Griffins, often hosts “The Coach’s Show” before (or sometimes during intermissions) in his broadcasts.
Before Game 1 of the Calder Cup playoffs, Kaser inquired about the decision to start Postava over Cossa.
Griffins head coach Dan Watson emphasized that Postava has earned the start. In the final stretch of the regular season, Watson appreciated Postava’s gameplay and demeanor during that leg of the season.
He finished the segment with the idea that they have to go with the hot goalie right now, which happens to be Postava.
On a side note, Postava is quite entertaining to watch (in or out of his net).
Postava shuts down a breakaway attempt by Brayden Yager!!#GoGRG #AHL #LGRW pic.twitter.com/JEuVcN3BQc
— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) May 2, 2026
It's a bit odd that some Red Wings fans can't be happy for their goaltending prospect. It doesn't matter if a player is drafted or signs with the Red Wings as a free agent. If they are performing well, we should be happy for him and Hockeytown.
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