The Red Wings signed 23-year-old goaltender Michal Postava to compete for starts with Sebastian Cossa in Grand Rapids. As the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan notes, the Wings are hoping that the Kometa Brno backstop and Czech League Champion this past spring will bolster the team’s goaltending depth:
Postava (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) quickly drew the interest of NHL teams. Several Western Conference teams were in discussions with Postava, before he had a lengthy meeting in Czechia with Jiri Fischer, the former Wings defenseman and current associate director of player personnel, who apparently convinced Postava to sign with Detroit.
The Wings had been searching for a goaltender to fill a spot in Grand Rapids, where Postava will compete for playing time with Sebastian Cossa, while also capable of making NHL starts if injuries confront John Gibson or Cam Talbot.
“It’s maybe because there are many Czech players before, like Jiri Fischer,” said Postava, about signing with the Wings. “Detroit is a big club, big (original) six. It’s a big opportunity for me. I’m proud to be in this organization.”
Postava had a 23-18-0 record in 42 games, with three shutouts a 2.39 GAA and .920 SVS for Kometa Brno during the regular season.
“The confidence was No. 1,” Postava said of what he gained most last season. “Be calm (for the) full game and focus to be the best and win all games.”
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman believes that Postava can thrive in the AHL:
“It’s very realistic he can play in the AHL next year,” Yzerman said. “I haven’t seen him do it, so that’s the only question mark. He had an outstanding year. One of our scouts in Europe, who lives in the Czech Republic, has watched Kometa all year and really pushed hard for him. He’s watched him climb through every league, and the next step for him after a really good year is to go to the American League.”
