As if this last week hasn't been crazy enough for Detroit Red Wings fans, another bit of news has just come out regarding goaltender Sebastian Cossa.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli joined the Canucks Central podcast to discuss the Stanley Cup, Mike Babcock's potential return to the NHL, and, of course, Dylan Larkin and his trade request.
At one point in the Larkin segment, one of the podcast hosts suggests to Seravalli that the Red Wings target someone like Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild. When they begin to talk about Detroit's goaltending prospects like Trey Augustine, one of the hosts mentions that Sebastian Cossa may be reaching the end of his runway in Detroit.
Seravalli interrupts quickly. "That's ending," he begins. "He's not coming back to Detroit."
This news comes as a bit of a surprise considering Cossa's numbers. In 39 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Cossa ended the season with a .915 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average and a 26-8-4 record. As the season went on, his play fell off a little, causing him to lose some starting time to fellow goaltender Michal Postava.
Could this have caused a rift between Cossa and Yzerman?
Not the first time Cossa's name has surfaced this offseason
This is the third time Sebastian Cossa's name has been mentioned this offseason -- nor is it the first time Frank Seravalli has brought his name up. Just a few weeks back, Seravalli reiterated the point he made about Cossa being on the outs in Hockeytown.
"Sebastian Cossa is out in Detroit," said Seravalli on his podcast. "The asking price for him is a second round pick or a roster player that can help them now. "
A week before, Seravalli again posited a trade rumor of Cossa and how he's going to be on the move. Either Seravalli has a source telling him this repeatedly, or he desperately wants to push a narrative of Cossa moving on from the Red Wings.
Either way, the only NHL insider to consistently mention Cossa has been Seravalli.
The Red Wings are a notoriously tight-lipped organization. It's extremely unlikely that any leaks have surfaced from within the club. Whether the rumors came from Cossa's camp or somewhere else is anyone's guess, but it's clear Seravalli will continue to reiterate this point until Cossa is either traded or Steve Yzerman offers some clarity.
Which teams could target Cossa
The market for Cossa is even more perplexing. The Edmonton Oilers have been the most frequently cited suitor, but it's hard to know what kind of return would come the other way in a trade. The Oilers don't have a very deep prospect pool and their roster help would be marginal at best. Other candidates, like the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers, might need help, but would need to offer something substantial in return.
The Athletic ranked Cossa as the top goaltending prospect in the NHL. It's hard to imagine the Red Wings will move him for anything less than a great return.
We'll have to wait and see if Seravalli's report holds any water or is pure speculation. Either way, it doesn't look like Cossa's trade rumors are going away anytime soon.
