Month: September 2022

The Detroit Red Wings made it very clear during the summer development camp that a spot on the Red Wings, Grand Rapids Griffins’ or Toledo Walleye’s roster is not guaranteed for top prospect and Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa.

With Victor Brattstrom, Jonathan Lethemon and Jussi Olkinuora already signed to two-way contracts, the Red Wings have more than enough goaltenders to take care of their goaltending situation at the AHL and ECHL levels.

Interestingly, however, Cossa’s WHL team in Edmonton is preparing as if Cossa won’t return, as the Edmonton Sun’s Derek Van Diest reports:

How well the Oil Kings do in a rebuilding year may depend on the play of goaltender Colby Hay, who is taking over as the No. 1 from Cossa. Hay, 18, filled in admirably in a backup role last season, and will begin the season as the starter.

“It’s going to be a big job, he’s got big shoes to fill, but that’s why we played Kolby in 25 games last season,” [Oil Kings general manager Kirt] Hill said. “We knew that we weren’t going to have Sebastian back and between Kolby and Alex Worthington, 17, we really like our tandem of young goaltending.

“Kolby’s starts might be a little different in the sense he might be seeing a little bit more action at times, but I thought he matured a lot through last season and now we’ll see how he response to being the No. 1 guy.”

Continued; I’m assuming that, should Cossa be assigned to Edmonton by the Red Wings, they’ll readjust their plans.

Of Red Wings prospect-related note from Thursday:

In the Champions Hockey League, in Gothenburg, Sweden, Liam Dower Nilsson only played 6:33, finishing even with no shots, in Frolunda HC’s 4-2 win over Mountfield HK. LDN was playing on Frolunda’s third line.

Here are the game’s highlights:

And in Katowice, Poland, Rogle BK got a scare but managed to win a 5-4 decision against GKS Katowice thanks to a 4-goal 3rd period, rallying from a 3-1 deficit.

Marco Kasper had an assist, finishing even with 1 shot in 16:04 played;

Theodor Niederbach finished at +1 in 12:58 played;

William Wallinder had an assist and 4 shots, finishing even in 19:25 played;

Here are the game’s highlights:

Enjoy:

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner. 👏

Feast your eyes on Mortiz Seider’s top five plays from last season! @DetroitRedWings | #LGRW pic.twitter.com/tH8aB4JZjk

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 1, 2022

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills discusses the Red Wings’ goaltending situation this morning:

[Alex] Nedeljkovic and [Ville] Husso headline the Red Wings’ new goalie tandem, which is up next in DetroitRedWings.com‘s “Red Wings Reset” series that breaks down the club’s 2022-23 roster and new-look coaching staff.

“I think it will be great for both of us to have each other and push each other to get better,” Nedeljkovic said about sharing the crease with Husso in an Aug. 11 episode of The Word on Woodward. “And to be better every day to try to carry the team back into the playoffs.”

Husso joins Detroit after compiling a 25-7-6 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 40 regular-season games last season for St. Louis.

The 27-year-old also posted a 3.67 GAA with an .890 save percentage and one shutout in seven Stanley Cup Playoffs games for the Blues, who lost to the eventual 2022 Stanley Cup-champion Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the postseason.

“It’s a different game for a goalie when you jump in for a playoff game,” Husso said in an Aug. 24 episode of The Word on Woodward. “A lot of ups and downs during the game. You need to be mentally strong, so I think that’s the biggest thing I learned last year.”

Continued

The Canadian Hockey League, the parent organization for the QMJHL, OHL and WHL, posted an article in which they examine the CHL-playing prospects for the Red Wings this morning. Among their selections:

Jan Bednar: A hulking presence between the pipes, the Czech import is an athletic netminder who covers much of the net given his large frame. Making 47 appearances last season with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Bednar found the win column on 28 occasions coupled with a 2.72 goals-against average and .912 save percentage, helping him to earn a spot on the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. Bednar, 19, was chosen by the Red Wings in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Sebastian Cossa: Chosen by the Red Wings in the opening round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa is a modern goaltender who excels at using his massive size to turn aside the opposition. That was witnessed last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings as he put together a 33-9-2-1 showing through 46 appearances. In all, Cossa was recognized as part of the WHL’s Central Division First All-Star Team as part of a season where he helped his club claim the Ed Chynoweth Cup. A 19-year-old product of Fort McMurray, Ont., Cossa has also represented the Great White North on several occasions including this summer’s World Juniors. Cossa and the Red Wings came to terms on an entry-level contract last August.

Cross Hanas: A creative puck-handler, Hanas capitalizes by deftly finding his linemates in scoring position as shown last season with the Portland Winterhawks where he pushed the pace offensively with a team-leading 86 points coming in 63 appearances and was later named to the WHL’s U.S. Division First All-Star Team. A 20-year-old Texas native, the talented right-wing is expected to join the pro ranks next season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Hanas was chosen by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Amadeus Lombardi: Bringing a game built on speed and skill, Lombardi put together an impressive first season with the Flint Firebirds in 2021-22 as he ranked second in team scoring with 59 points in 67 outings. A 19-year-old native of Aurora, Ont., the talented centre heard his name called by the Red Wings in the fourth round of this summer’s NHL Draft.

Continued with three more prospects…

Per the Toledo Walleye:

🚨 PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

Welcome to T-Town, Gordie Green!

👉 https://t.co/hCdJQhPp1M pic.twitter.com/nLgYkuojX1— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) September 1, 2022

Here’s their press release:

(Toledo, OH) – Forward Gordie Green has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2022-2023 season.

Green, a native of Ann Arbor, MI, comes to the Walleye after completing a strong 2020-2021 season with the Newfoundland Growlers in which he collected 47 points (15G, 32A) over 57 contests while adding in another 14 points (7G, 7A) in 19 playoff contests. In two pro seasons, he also has skated in 15 games for Toronto in the AHL with a goal and an assist. His pro career also features a 19-game stint with Wichita in the 2020-2021 season with eight goals and ten assists.

Before turning professional, Green spent four years at Miami University in which he skated in 145 games while collecting 115 points (48G, 67A). As a captain his senior season, the 25-year-old posted a career-best point total with 36 in 34 games. He collected at least 20 points in all four seasons for the Red Hawks and was a NCHC Second Team All-Star for the 2019-2020 season.

Green is 25 and stands at 5’8″ and 172 pounds, per EliteProspects.