What Ought to Sebastian Cossa Be taught from this Preseason?

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September 30, 2024

Sebastian Cossa is not preventing for a roster spot on this yr’s Purple Wings coaching camp and preseason.

With three NHL beginning goaltenders on the roster, there simply is not area for him to even attempt. Maybe subsequent season, this can be totally different, however till then, Cossa can solely proceed working to develop. However that doesn’t devalue what Cossa can acquire from these preseason reps.

“It is necessary to get these video games,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde stated Saturday. “I’m going again to final yr. He performed third interval in Washington and performed effectively, so I assumed that was priceless for him. So I feel the method — camp, observe, goalie drills after which sport seems I feel, a really priceless kind. So greater than something, simply priceless expertise.”

Oct 1, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Red Wings goaltender Sebastian Cossa (33) defends the net against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. <p>Mandatory Credit&colon; Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports</p> — Oct 1, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Purple Wings goaltender Sebastian Cossa (33) defends the online in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks at United Middle.

Obligatory Credit score&colon; Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports activities

Expertise is way wanted for Cossa, the Hamilton, Ontario native who teammates nicknamed “Seabass.” He has solely performed round 85 minutes of NHL competitors over 4 video games previously three preseasons. In different phrases, he hasn’t performed a complete lot, and when he has, he hasn’t gotten a number of ice time. Solely as soon as did Cossa play multiple single interval in a preseason sport — in 2022, in opposition to Pittsburgh, when he stopped 11 of 12 photographs throughout 29:19 of ice time. His most intense workload got here within the Washington sport Lalonde referenced, when he stopped 12 of the 14 photographs he confronted whereas relieving Alex Lyon within the third interval.

If Detroit envisions Cossa because the starter of the long run, then getting him NHL reps is crucial. Beginning goaltenders cannot simply be good in restricted bursts — they should ship with regularity. And that consistency, via an abundance of appearances, is what the Purple Wings are getting Cossa accustomed to. It is why he is slated to be Grand Rapids’ main starter this season, constructing on his record-breaking 19-game unbeaten streak final season.

Further Studying: Prospect Roundup: Sebastian Cossa Breaking Records in AHL]

All of the whereas, Detroit has to steadiness its NHL wants, too. The Purple Wings have three goaltenders battling for the NHL starter’s internet, and Detroit needs to offer them ample reps for somebody to show they’re deserving of the job. This makes getting Cossa into video games a bit difficult, and getting him into greater than the uncommon interval even tougher. However as long as Cossa is getting these alternatives, he can be taught from them.

Even when Cossa cannot boast a wealth of NHL expertise, he can level to success in his restricted reps. In these 4 mixed appearances, he let in three targets on a mixed 44 photographs. The caveats are that he has performed largely brief bursts that permit him to remain contemporary, and the ability current in a preseason sport pales compared to an precise NHL matchup. So naturally, the subsequent step is to get Cossa acclimated in opposition to harder competitors, therefore what Lalonde stated about expertise.

To this point this preseason, Cossa has already performed a full interval — a 10-save shutout in Chicago to open the preseason. He was scheduled to play the third interval of Saturday’s sport in opposition to Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, it’s unclear how the sport’s rescheduling will have an effect on him on condition that Detroit is splitting its roster between the Penguins sport and a highway sport in Buffalo on the identical time. It is possible that Cossa will play a interval in no less than one of many video games; it is only a query of which one.

All of those appearances are constructing as much as a chance for Cossa to get to the NHL, a future that may very well be reasonably close to. Detroit has three goaltenders on the NHL stage proper now — Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon and Ville Husso — however solely Talbot is signed via subsequent season. There is a spot open for Cossa as quickly as subsequent season, as long as he proves he’s prepared for it. Getting used to NHL competitors now, mixed with an elevated workload in Grand Rapids, might put together Cossa to say the backup spot a yr from now.

As a lot as Cossa’s appearances proper now may not maintain the identical weight as a goaltender preventing for an NHL roster spot, they’re simply as necessary to Detroit’s long-term future. Ought to he proceed to succeed, and with a powerful upcoming season with the Griffins, Cossa is perhaps taking part in underneath totally different stakes this time subsequent yr.