A few days back, we saw Michal Postava sign his entry-level deal with the Detroit Red Wings. This move comes not long after Sebastian Cossa, the presumed future No. 1 netminder in Hockeytown, struggled throughout the AHL Playoffs.
That said, pressure might just brew for Cossa this fall as Postava looks to make his mark. Now, Postava’s definitely behind the eight-ball here, as he’ll need to adjust to the North American game.
But how long will it take him? Is Postava a fast learner, and one who will hit the ground running? Or, will he need time?
If he were a skater, especially a forward, I’d give Postava the benefit of the doubt here. But, it’s fair to say Cossa hasn’t impressed the way we would’ve wanted him to. Despite gaudy numbers in the AHL this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Cossa’s flat performance in the playoffs raised more than a few eyebrows.
Red Wings organizational depth goaltender controversy is rather important
Should the Red Wings not re-sign Alex Lyon and let him walk in free agency and they don’t pick up another NHL-caliber veteran at goaltender, then either Cossa or Postava are the next men up.
Who do you got? The solid, but so far unspectacular Cossa, or the up-and-comer in Postava, should he resemble the player he was in Czechia?
For context, Postava played with his big club in Czechia’s pro league this past season and posted a 2.39 GAA, a 0.921 save percentage, and three shutouts in 42 contests. The 23-year-old posted another three shutouts in the playoffs, where he snagged a 1.97 GAA and a 0.940 save percentage.
Yeah, consistency was Postava’s middle name last season, and for good reason. But, Czechia’s pro league’s neither the NHL nor the AHL, where most of the world’s top players reside. The rink’s a little different, as is the game. So, it’ll be a learning curve for Postava.
Meanwhile, in Grand Rapids…
Cossa’s struggles in the playoffs almost certainly mean he’s heading back to the AHL for one more season. As for Cossa, his regular season numbers weren’t anywhere near bad, with a 0.911 save percentage, a 2.45 GAA, and a shutout across 41 games.
But his playoff performance saw him end up with an 0.868 save percentage and a 4.51 GAA across two games. Sure, it was only a pair of contests, but that’s not what you want to see in a high-stakes environment. Especially when Postava dominated throughout most of the playoffs.
That said, Cossa’s got the experience battle won in the North American game, and he’s one outstanding camp away from gaining serious consideration to land a spot with the big club. So, if I were to rank the two right now, Cossa gets a narrow lead, but Postava can close that gap fast.
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