The Detroit Red Wings originally had the 23rd overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft after already having drafted 6th, but GM Steve Yzerman always has tricks up his sleeve.
They swung a deal with the Dallas Stars, acquiring the 15th overall selection for the 23rd, 48th and 138th overall selections.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨 #DRWDraft x #LGRW pic.twitter.com/bU6EYKtRuk
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 24, 2021
With the 15th pick, they selected goaltender Sebastian Cossa:
With the 15th pick in the 2021 #NHLDraft, the #RedWings select…
Goaltender Sebastian Cossa! 🙌#DRWDraft x #LGRW pic.twitter.com/2BSlBLhhTR
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 24, 2021
The 6’6, 212 lb. goaltender posted a WHL best .941 save percentage with the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was a finalist for the WHL goaltender of the year award after having won 12 consecutive games to begin the season.
Oh, and he also recorded a shutout in his first WHL game in 2019.
“You can’t teach size at that position and you know the way the position is trending in the NHL with larger goalies,” Aaron Vickers, a WHL scout for FC Hockey, said in an appearance on the NHL Draft Class podcast. “The thing is that he’s just as quick as he is tall. His lateral movement is really good, he’s good at using his reach in terms of his blocker and glove… and he’s got the flexibility and the lateral movement to extend a leg as much as he needs to.”
– – Quotes via Sportsnet Link – –
