Sebastian Cossa, the Detroit Red Wings' 2021 first-round goalie prospect, was not called up for the final games of the season despite his waiver-exempt status ending. Instead, the team opted to bring up 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård.
TAMPA, FL – Sebastian Cossa's status as exempt from waivers is coming to an end, but he'll go into his first season with the Detroit Red Wings having played just one NHL game.
With the Wings eliminated from the playoffs, they called up 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård on Monday, April 13, to have available for the last two games. But Cossa, a 2021 first-round pick and the presumptive goaltender-of-the-future, was not considered as a candidate to be called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Wings finish the season against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit).
"There was no thought or anything," coach Todd McLellan said after the Wings' 4-3 overtime loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. Backup Cam Talbot started that game.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Sebastian Cossa (33) makes a pad save in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago on Oct. 1, 2022.
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Former Michigan State standout Trey Augustine (a 2023 second-round pick and the winner of the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top collegiate goalie last week) signed with the Wings in late March and was assigned to the Griffins, joining Cossa and Michal Postava. The Griffins clinched a playoff berth in late February.
"They're getting ready down there," McLellan said. "They have a real big push. They have three really good goaltenders there right now. How they'll use them in the playoffs, I don't know. But I know that all three are really, really important, and we need them to focus on their job and their task down there."
McLellan added that the Wings, "used up the remaining recalls. We're done as far as that goes. So there was no opportunity to bring him." Teams get four non-emergency call-ups after the trade deadline.
Cossa has appeared in one NHL game, coming in in relief on the road against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 9, 2024 – a game he won in a shootout. The 23-year-old posted a .857 save percentage, allowing two goals on 14 shots in 45 minutes of action.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Detroit Red Wings aren't putting Sebastian Cossa in the lineup
Sebastian Cossa was not considered for a call-up as the team opted to bring up 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård instead.
Cossa's waiver-exempt status ending means he will need to clear waivers if the Red Wings decide to send him down to the AHL next season.
Sebastian Cossa has played just one NHL game for the Detroit Red Wings as of now.
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