Red Wings sign top-5 NHL prospect

On Tuesday afternoon, the Detroit Red Wings announced that they have signed goaltender Trey Augustine to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning prior to the 2026-27 season. The 21-year-old netminder will report to the Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. 

Augustine was originally selected by the Red Wings in the second round, 41st overall, during the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Augustine has dominated in the crease at Michigan State over the past three seasons, earning Mike Richter Award nominations all three years, an honor that goes to the best NCAA goaltender during the regular season. 

Augustine was the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, named to the All-Big Ten First Team in both 2025 and 2026 and a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2026, showcasing just how dominant Augustine’s tenure was with Michigan State. NHL insider Craig Button ranked Augustine as the fifth-best prospect in the NHL.

A look into his career at Michigan State

Augustine showed improvement in each of his three seasons as a Spartan, a welcome sign for Red Wings fans who have been looking for a franchise goalie for what feels like forever. Here is a look at Augustine’s numbers as a Spartan: 

• 2023–24: 35 GP, 2.96 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 shutouts, 23–9–2 record
• 2025–26: 30 GP, 2.08 GAA, .924 SV%, 3 shutouts, 19–7–4 record
• 2025–26: 34 GP, 2.11 GAA, .929 SV%, 3 shutouts, 24–9–1 record

The continued growth, coupled with the experience of competing at three World Junior Championships, gives the belief that Augustine has what it takes to jump in and succeed at the NHL level. 

A realistic timeline for Trey Augustine's arrival

The next question is, when can Red Wings fans expect to see Augustine at the NHL level? With John Gibson under contract for next season and Sebastian Cossa putting together his finest professional season, it feels like those will be the two goaltenders when the 2026-27 season opens next September. 

Following that season, Gibson is a pending unrestricted free agent, leaving the door open for Augustine to grab a spot in Detroit’s crease and play alongside Cossa. The Red Wings showed no interest in trading either one of these highly touted goaltending prospects, making it appear they have confidence in letting two young goaltenders take the reins in a few seasons. 

While prospects can be difficult to predict, the Red Wings appear to have found a gem in the 2023 draft, giving Red Wings fans hope that a long-term solution in the crease will be here before they know it. Of all the problems an organization can have, two top-tier goaltending prospects is an extremely good problem to have.