Coast to Coast: Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa doesn't back down

As the Detroit Red Wings traded up, everyone knew they were going for a goaltender.

Almost a certainty among the experts at the draft, Wallstedt would be the choice. Come on, the Detroit Red Wings and a Swede? 

Instead, the Detroit Red Wings stunned professional and amateur draft experts alike when they selected the monster from Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada. (Go figure, a cousin’s crazy theory was money.)

Frankly, I’m unsure if the Cossa or Moritz Seider pick at No. 6 overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft shocked more people. 

From 2021 through the beginning of this season, it seemed that the Detroit Red Wings might have made a mistake in picking Cossa over, as Wallstedt performed well in every conceivable league. From the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to the American Hockey League (AHL), Wallstedt played like a rockstar.

Meanwhile, Cossa struggled at times and even spent 46 games in the ECHL last season, a step below the AHL (where Wallstedt was playing all season). Even to begin this 2023-24 campaign, Cossa didn’t come out of the gates on fire. 

Possibly a casualty of the Detroit Red Wings’ odd goaltending choices throughout the preseason, Cossa took about a quarter of the season to really make a push for the starting goaltender position for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Even with his claim of the starter’s position, the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins seemed content splitting starts between Cossa and his veteran goaltending partner.

Beginning on January 19 and ending on April 5, Cossa caught on fire, boasting a 19-game point streak. Sadly, his franchise-setting streak (along with the Grand Rapids Griffins’ franchise-setting 19-game home point streak) came to an end. 

This journey saw Cossa flourish in his new, well-earned role with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Part of me hopes that Grand Rapids Griffins goaltending coach Roope Koistinen follows Cossa wherever he goes. Understandably, Cossa has put in the effort and has physically stopped the pucks to earn his history-breaking win streak, but I haven’t seen him so poised in his career.