It has been a great start to the season for the Detroit Red Wings. Through their first 14 games, they have a record of 9-5-0, which is good for 18 points and second place in the Atlantic Division.
However, it's not just the Red Wings who are off to a hot start. Their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, are off to the best start in the AHL. They are undefeated through eight games and sit atop the Central Division standings.
A significant reason for the Griffins' hot start has been the play of goaltender Sebastian Cossa. In the four games he has started, he has registered a .939 save percentage and a goals against average (GAA) of 1.45. Both of which rank in the top ten among active AHL netminders. Cossa's performance is not only good for the Griffins but also for the long-term plans of the Red Wings.
Sebastian Cossa has the talent to be the Red Wings goalie of the future
Unlike the Griffins, the Red Wings have not gotten elite play from the goaltending tandem. John Gibson has a save percentage of .890 and a goals against average of 3.03. Cam Talbot has similar numbers, with a .897 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.76.
While these numbers aren't terrible, there is considerable room for improvement. There is also the problem that both of these players are over the age of 30, and their contract expires within the next two years.
Regardless of how these two players finish this season, they are short-term answers. It would not be very smart to rely on Gibson or Talbot to be the starting goalie for the next five-plus seasons. Especially when both goalies have shown signs of decline over the last few seasons. Because of this, they need to ensure they have a solid goaltender waiting to take over once Talbot or Gibson are no longer on the team.
Cossa has the potential to be the long-term answer in between the pipes for Detroit. While this season is the best he's looked, he has consistently put in strong performances in the AHL. In 88 career games, he has a save percentage of .910 and a goals against average of 2.48. He's also only 22 years old, meaning that his play will likely improve as he ages and matures. The Red Wings could have a future top-ten goalie waiting.
The only thing that Cossa has to prove is that he can preform this well at the NHL level. In his brief appearances in the NHL, things have not gone so great. In his only career NHL game, he blocked 14 of 16 shots for a .857 save percentage. This past preseason did not fare much better. In the two games he appeared in, he stopped 31 of the 37 shots he faced for an .838 save percentage and a 3.10 goals against average.
While these numbers are concerning, they are based on a small sample size. It's possible that once Cossa gets regular NHL time, he can settle in and gain confidence, allowing him to produce similar results to what we have seen in the AHL.
No matter what Cossa's future holds, the start he's had in Grand Rapids has been special. It should give Wings fans hope that their next franchise goalie is potentially in the organization. He is just waiting for his opportunity.