A mildly surprising discussion involving Detroit Red Wings' top goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa has fueled some intense trade speculation.
As my colleague Jake Rivard reported here on Octopus Thrower, insider Frank Servalli suggested that the Wings could trade Cossa amid an impending logjam in the crease.
The logjam is real. If other goalie prospects like Trey Augustine and Michal Postava pan out, the Red Wings could have three NHL-caliber goalies within the next couple of seasons. And there just isn’t enough playing time for three netminders, even if they are on cheap contracts for two or three years.
That said, the logjam could be a blessing in disguise for the Red Wings. It could turn Cossa into its most valuable trade chip.
In the run-up to this year’s NHL trade deadline, the chatter suggested that teams looking to deal with the Red Wings wanted prospects like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Nate Danielson. Needless to say, the Wings weren’t entertaining offers involving any of those players.
But what if Detroit could pull off a deal and still keep all of the aforementioned prospects? If Cossa was enough to entice other organizations, a trade involving Cossa as the main piece could gain serious traction.
Red Wings could dangle Cossa like Wild did with Wallstedt
The thirst for young goalie prospects is real. At the deadline, the Minnesota Wild were unafraid to dangle rookie Jesper Wallstedt in front of other teams. One notable rumor was the Wild looking to land Robert Thomas from the St. Louis Blues, with Wallstedt being a major part of the overall return.
Could the Red Wings do the same with Cossa? Could Detroit talk to a team like, say, the New York Rangers and rekindle talks regarding Vincent Trocheck, with Cossa being the main piece?
That’s an intriguing possibility. With various teams needing a long-term solution in the crease, Cossa could suddenly become an attractive possibility.
Could the Toronto Maple Leafs consider moving Matthew Knies for Cossa and more?
Could the Ottawa Senators consider moving Brady Tkachuk for Cossa, picks and another prospect?
Such a move could come down to banking on another team’s desperation. A club potentially losing a free agent for nothing might look at the situation and think about pulling the trigger.
Of course, this conversation hinges on teams not needing an immediate upgrade in the crease. Cossa would certainly look good to the Edmonton Oilers. But they need a starting goalie today, not a year or two down the line. Unless the Oilers felt that Cossa could be a playoff starter next season, like Wallstedt was this season, contending teams like the Oilers, LA Kings or even the Carolina Hurricanes may not want to take a chance on a rookie goalie being the guy next season.
Whether a deal happens or not, Cossa remains the Red Wings' most valuable trade chip. Steve Yzerman should not be afraid to pull the trigger, especially if it leads to a suitable upgrade for the club’s top six forward group.
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