Are the Edmonton Oilers dreaming of Sebastian Cossa?

The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson was one of the first journalists to suggest that Red Wings prospect and former Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa could end up in Edmonton, and here’s what Matheson has to say about the situation tonight:

Yes the Edmonton Oilers still have the feel-good UFA goalie Connor Ingram in their sights, maybe wanting to re-sign him to tag-team with Tristan Jarry but bubbling under the surface, what about the Oilers and the intriguing Sebastian Cossa? That storyline hasn’t gone away.

Yes, Detroit wants a first-round draft pick for the 23-year-old goalie because he was a first-round pick, 15th overall when they took him in 2021, and, no, the Oilers don’t have a selection to trade the Red Wings in the first 32 Friday night, barring some sort of GM Stan Bowman gymnastics. Or in 2027, for that matter. They do have their first-rounder in 2028, but that is really kicking the can down the road for Detroit.

And, yes, another team (Utah) might be looking for somebody like Cossa, too, even if they do have Czechia tender Michal Hrabal as well in their pipeline, but just coming out of college. And they have a pick later in Round 1. They have the 19th selection and need a tender to give their over-worked starter Karel Vejmelka, 30, a breather after Vitek Vanceck wasn’t the answer last season.

At second glance, Vancouver, which has the 29th pick, along with No. 4, might seem a possible Cossa trade destination, too, because of the uncertainty for a long while with veteran Thatcher Demko. But the Canucks expect the oft-injured Demko to be ready for the start of the season to work with Kevin Lankinen, under contract for four more years. They also have hotshot Russian prospect Alexei Medvedev, who played junior in London, and Finn Aku Koskenvuo in their pipeline.

So, we’re back to the Oilers. They do have lots of their own prospect goalies — Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day, Eemil Vinni (Finland) and Connor Ungar. But they covet Cossa, who has played three years in the AHL. There’s no reason why he can’t be their version of Carolina’s Brandon Bussi.

Continue reading Are the Edmonton Oilers dreaming of Sebastian Cossa?

Think small?

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an afternoon notebook today, discussing Dylan Larkin’s status (could it take all summer and into the fall for the Wings to trade him? Of course it could!), and some possible picks for the Red Wings when the 47th overall pick is called in round 2 on Saturday morning:

There are certain players who could drop to where the Wings pick Saturday, at No. 47 overall, and would appear to be Yzerman’s type of prospects. Here are several to keep an eye on:

▶ William Hakansson: The 6-foot-4, 218-pound defenseman is a physical, stay-at-home type, who isn’t likely to produce much offense but could develop into the shutdown defenseman every team consistently searches for. He played in the Swedish men’s league, a rare thing for an 18-year-old.

▶ Adam Valentini: The 5-10, 185-pound Valentini had 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games at Michigan. A center who players bigger than his size and is relentless on the forecheck, the Wings would gladly give Valentini time to grow into a complete player.

▶ Victor Plante: Yes, Max’s younger brother. Victor is 5-foot-10, 163-pounds and will join Max at Minnesota-Duluth this season. Victor showed promising offensive potential last season at the Plymouth Township-based United States National Team Development Program, with 21 goals and 48 points in 57 games.

▶ Mathis Preston: The 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger is projected to be a late first-rounder in some mock drafts, but most have him falling into the second round because of inconsistency and inability to drive the play. Preston had 18 goals between two teams last season in the WHL.

Everybody I’ve read thinks that the Wings will pick Valentini if he’s available. I’d like to see Victor Plante join his brother, or see the Wings reunite Carter Bear and Everett Silvertips linemate Matias Vanhanen…

But all three players are 5’10,” and I believe that Detroit needs to add a power forward or three in this year’s draft. Size and snarl are hard to find in the Wings’ developmental pipeline, and I happen to believe that the Wings need both categories…

And here are the Wings’ 7 picks for tomorrow (the 2nd through 7th rounds will begin at 11 AM EDT, televised on the NHL Network and Sportsnet):

47, 79, 108, 143, 175, 196, 207.

Tweet of note via TSN: Strickland reports that Larkin will ‘end up with Minnesota’

From TSN’s draft day blog:

Latest on Dylan Larkin

Red Wings star forward Dylan Larkin is likely on his way out after requesting a trade out of Detroit earlier this month. It’s just a matter of when and where.

According to hockey reporter Andy Strickland, there’s a growing belief Larkin will end up with the Minnesota Wild.

“Gauging opinions, the belief is that Dylan Larkin will end up with Minnesota once everything is settled,” Strickland wrote on social media.

The Wild were one of the best teams in the NHL last season, posting a 46-24-12 record to finish third in a the very strong Central Division.  Minnesota defeated the Dallas Stars in six games in the opening round before falling to the first-place Colorado Avalanche in five games in the second round. 

We’ve already seen involving a Team USA forward ahead of the draft in the Florida Panthers swinging a blockbuster for Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. We learned later that Tkachuk had requested a trade and given the Senators a short list of teams he would consider. 

Larkin’s trade request from the Red Wings went public earlier this month as the captain’s three-team approved trade list, but the wait continues for Larkin.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reported on Thursday that the New York Rangers are one team who would love to see Larkin dealt to move Vincent Trocheck back atop the available centre market, but no move appears imminent. 

“I know people might roll their eyes, but we’re talking about Steve Yzerman here [as general manager of the Red Wings],” LeBrun explained. “From talking to other teams, what they’re telling me is that Detroit has told teams that if they don’t get their price met on Larkin, they’re willing to tell him to come back to training camp in September.” Any other team I’d say that’s posturing, but I believe it when teams tell me that about Yzerman.”

Talking about Larkin and Cossa via Chris Johnston’s ‘trade board’

Updated at 9:40 AM: The Athletic’s Chris Johnston updated his NHL “trade board” for the 5th time this morning, and he discusses the potential fates of two current members of the Red Wings’ organization:

2. Dylan Larkin

Team: Detroit Red Wings
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2025-26 stats: 34 goals, 67 points, 74 games
Age: 29
Contract: $8.7 million AAV through 2031; no-trade clause becomes 10-team no-trade list in 2028-29

Larkin is a speedy two-way center who is an ever-present threat to score. He can handle big minutes and tough checking assignments and is known as a competitive player who battles his way to the difficult areas of the ice. While his playoff experience is limited to just five games, Larkin was a strong performer for Team USA at the Milan Olympics and 4 Nations Face-Off. His contract makes him an even more attractive asset because he’s locked in at a reasonable rate of $8.7 million for the next five seasons. The Vegas Golden Knights — one of his favored destinations — could be lurking in the weeds here.

The thing that pisses me off the most about losing Larkin is that he drives play, and it’s rare to find a driver of play.

Anyway, I don’t think that the Wings will trade Larkin to Vegas without Pavel Dorofeyev in return, and I don’t believe that the Golden Knights are interested in moving Dorofeyev, so we may see a “futures” flip with a third team if that situation works out.

Let’s move on to discuss Sebastian Cossa’s situation:

Continue reading Talking about Larkin and Cossa via Chris Johnston’s ‘trade board’

Morning news round-up: talking about the Red Wings and the 2026 NHL Draft

The 2026 NHL Draft takes place tonight and tomorrow in Buffalo, New York.

The 1st round will air on ESPN in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada, and the 2nd through 7th rounds begin at 11 AM EDT on Saturday, airing on the NHL Network and Sportsnet.

The Red Wings 7 draft picks, as of this morning, are the 47th, 79th, 108th, 143rd, 175th, 196th and 207th overall draft picks.

This morning, the Free Press’s Christian Romo and Helene St. James weigh in on what we might occur over the course of the next 50-something hours…

The latest on the Dylan Larkin situation

It’s going on three weeks since someone leaked that Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade to a contender. As the Free Press was first to report, Larkin’s initial destinations focused on the Panthers (no state tax), the Minnesota Wild and the Vegas Golden Knights. That doesn’t mean other teams couldn’t get involved, even with Larkin having a no-trade clause, or that it ends up being a multi-faceted trade.

The Wings need something along the lines of Larkin in return: A top-line center in his prime with a history of scoring. The fact Larkin is under contract for five more seasons, at a reasonable $8.7 million salary cap hit, makes him all the more attractive to teams. Pretty much all teams are always looking to upgrade at the center spot. It’s also why Yzerman may ultimately play hardball and hang on to Larkin. However awkward that might be come camp and games, at the end of the day, Yzerman is running a business.

At this point, I’m all but expecting a Larkin trade to include a 3rd team so that the Red Wings can flip future assets for present-day help.

I don’t see Florida trading Anton Lundell, I don’t see Minnesota moving Charlie Stramel and Danila Yurov, and I don’t see Vegas moving Pavel Dorofeyev (nor can I imagine the Dallas Stars offering Mavrik Bourque) in return for Larkin…

Continue reading Morning news round-up: talking about the Red Wings and the 2026 NHL Draft

Evening thoughts: On Dylan Larkin, Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings’ goaltending situation

Updated 2x at 9:55 PM: On the eve of the NHL Draft’s two-day extravaganza of prospects, trades and endless waiting for the first round to get over and done with, Daily Faceoff offered some Dylan Larkin “intel” from The Fourth Period’s wise and wily David Pagnotta, who reports that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants to get the Larkin situation finished by the end of the draft weekend, if not by free agency…

Though we all know the man who has a “disgruntled” player (Pagnotta’s smartly-chosen descriptor) won’t give in until he’s satisfied with the return may very well let things play out for the balance of the summer if he can’t get the return he wants for the Wings’ number one center (that would be Andrew Copp, now, right?)

Anyway, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan and John Buccigross offered a humorous take on the situation from Buffalo, where the draft is being held…

Continue reading Evening thoughts: On Dylan Larkin, Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings’ goaltending situation

What about DeBrincat? The Fourth Period reports that teams are inquiring about #93

Not surprisingly, The Fourth Period reports that other NHL teams are inquiring about the availability of Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, who has 1 year remaining on his contract:

It is unclear if the Red Wings have an appetite to explore a trade involving DeBrincat, at this stage, but citing multiple league sources, TFP’s David Pagnotta reports teams have reached out.

DeBrincat owns a 16-team no-trade list as part of his contract and does have some control in where he ends up, if dealt.

The Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres are some of the teams exploring the market for a top-line, scoring winger and could have interest in DeBrincat.

DeBrincat scored 41 goals and added a career-high 44 assists for a career-high 85 points in 82 games with the Red Wings this past season.

Continued; everything for the Wings depends on what happens with the team’s direction post-Dylan Larkin.

We’re going to have to wait and see whether Patrick Kane, who can test the free agent marketplace next Wednesday, agrees to remain here if the Larkin trade isn’t consummated by then, and whether the Wings acquire players that can help now or “future considerations” in the form of prospects and draft picks will determine whether DeBrincat remains…

Though I have a feeling that DeBrincat is a stronger pick to remain a Red Wing than Kane at this point.

Tweet of note: Red Wings trade Amadeus Lombardi to New Jersey for Devils’ 4th round draft pick

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

It’s a little disappointing to see the Wings “give up” on Lombardi, but the smallish center‘s point-per-game status at the AHL belied a set of injuries that cost him half-season absences over the past two seasons.

Update: According to PuckPedia, the Wings now have pick #108 to use on Saturday:

So the Wings have picks 47, 79, 108, 143, 175, 196 and 207 in this weekend’s NHL Draft in Buffalo.

UPDATE: Here’s the Wings’ official press release:

Continue reading Tweet of note: Red Wings trade Amadeus Lombardi to New Jersey for Devils’ 4th round draft pick

Discussing the Red Wings’ goaltending options without Sebastian Cossa in the fold

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen discusses the Red Wings’ goaltending options at both the NHL and AHL levels should the team decide to trade Sebastian Cossa.

Allen believes that Cossa’s headed out at 23 going on 24 this November, with his waiver-exempt status expiring, and, as such, Detroit will have to determine whether Michal Postava is ready for NHL duty after his late-season surge in the AHL, and whether Trey Augustine’s ready to start in GR:

The question Yzerman must answer is whether he can trust prospect Michal Postava to start the season as John Gibson’s Detroit backup. If Yzerman has unwavering belief in Postava, then the Red Wings can play the much-heralded Trey Augustine 45-plus games with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Postava, 24, has given the Red Wings reason to believe he is ready for the NHL. He outplayed Cossa by posting a 17-6 record with a 1.76 GAA and .937 save percentage. He surrendered more than three goals in a game only once in 33 regular season and playoff games.

The only concern about Postava is that this past season was his in North America. Is that enough for GM Steve Yzerman who values AHL experience? Postava did win a Czech championship two seasons ago.

Yzerman’s other option would be to sign an NHL veteran to pair with Gibson and let Postava have more time in Grand Rapids.

Allen also believes that we may see another “Michael Hutchinson” situation, in which the team would have Postava back up Gibson, but also bring in an AHL-level goaltender to mentor Augustine in Grand Rapids:

If the Red Wings are going to go with Postava, Yzerman might sign an AHL veteran to play with Augustine in Grand Rapids. Then, if the Detroit team suffers a goalie injury, the Red Wings would not have to rush Augustine with limited pro experience.

Detroit also has Carter Gylander, a restricted free agent. He played impressively well (7-0-1, 1.62 GAA) this past season when called up to Grand Rapids.