The next “goose chase” is on. Whether it’s wild or not depends upon your point of view.
The Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker reports that EliteProspects director of film scouting Cam Robinson, who is not one to manufacture trade rumors because it’s August or any other month, offered this on the latest “Sekeres and Price” show:
Appearing on The Sekeres & Price Show, League Insider Cam Robinson – Content Director and Director of Film Scouting for Elite Prospects – revealed that he’s been told the Oilers have reached out to Detroit about potentially acquiring [Sebastian] Cossa to present to their fans as their goaltender of the future.
“I’ve heard that they’re looking a little more long term, and their field of vision is a little wider here,” Robinson said of the Oilers. “I’ve been told they’ve contacted Detroit, I believe the first person they asked about was Trey Augustine and think it was just a non-starter. Steve Yzerman and company really love that kid, and they should.”
“But they have a 6’6″, 6’7″ former first rounder in Sebastian Cossa sitting there, who is slowly been progressing up the way, played a full season in the East Coast League,” Robinson continued. “They’re not soured on him by any means, but I think they’re hoping that he’d be quicker along the path, and the fact that they have Augustine there in the Red Wings system potentially allows him to be an expendable chip.
Whitaker is skeptical of the trade scenario:
“If Edmonton does want to get themselves someone that they can tag as like, ‘Here’s our goalie of the future that’s maybe only a year or two years away’, he’d be a great bet to go on,” Robinson concluded.
Unless the Oilers were to present Yzerman with a Godfather-style offer he couldn’t refuse, the chances of Detroit trading Cossa are remote. At the same time, Yzerman did not sound optimistic about Cossa seeing NHL action in the 2025-26 season.
“Today, I’m not prepared to say he’s going to play in the NHL next year,” Yzerman said on April 29 of Cossa. “He’s got to do more.”
There’s already speculation that the Red Wings would ask for a top-six forward in return, like one Isaac Howard, but the Edmonton folks who have been stirring the pot—starting with Oilers blogs and one Bob Stauffer–regarding this deal have been talking about seeing 3rd-liner Mattias Janmark going to Detroit instead, possibly with a high pick or two, given that Edmonton has some $225,834 under the salary cap’s upper limit, per PuckPedia.
This one comes from Oilers Daily, listening to Stauffer’s “Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer” on 880 CHED, way back on August 2nd:
Think Bob is talking about Sebastian Cossa here. Detroit has Trey Augustine passing him in rankings now, Cossa is a former Oil King. pic.twitter.com/HRkQIX5r8C
— OilersDaily (@alloilersdaily) August 2, 2025
So that’s two sources who do not tend to make up rumors in Mr. Robinson and Mr. Stauffer suggesting that the Oilers have made an inquiry as to Sebastian Cossa’s status.
What are the veracity of these conjectures? It’s hard to say. But the Red Wings would be “in the driver’s seat” here as they have all of Trey Augustine, Cossa and Michal Postava in tow, with Carter Gylander not that far behind.
That, and the Wings have a PuckPedia-estimated $12.086 million in salary cap space, so there’s no urgency whatsoever for the team to move anyone they can’t receive a premium return upon.
So, what does the author of this post think?
I’m of two minds here. Number one, I have little doubt that Robinson and Stauffer have something here, because these kinds of trade talks go on between general managers all the time, and while the Red Wings run an air-tight nuclear submarine in terms word getting out from the silent front office, Edmonton does not…
But I don’t really see the Red Wings considering making a move for one of their top goaltending prospects unless the return is more than adequate, and while I do not doubt the veracity of the “legs” of this rumor, it’s just not very likely.
