Red Wings goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa welcomes pressure, challenges

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa isn't fazed knowing that when a game is on the line, he is his team's last line of defense.

In fact, playing under pressure is what Cossa relishes.
"Mentally, I love the game," said Cossa, who was Detroit's 15th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. "Being a goalie, it's being the last end-all or be-all. I like that about the position, for sure."
Last season, Cossa compiled a 33-9-3 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 46 regular-season games with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings, finishing as the Central Division nominee for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as the WHL Goaltender of the Year.
"A lot of hockey," the young netminder said about his 2021-22 campaign. "I think it was a lot of experience for me and it was really good."
Cossa added that he learned a lot from Phil Osaer, the Red Wings' head of goaltending, scouting and development.
"He (Osaer) was coming up to Edmonton to work with me probably once a month," Cossa said. "Him coming up was great, but they (Detroit's player development staff) tried to keep their distance a bit and let me play my game."

After an impressive regular season, the Fort McMurray, Alberta native
also shined in the playoffs, posting a 16-3-0 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, earning a franchise-record five postseason shutouts in 19 games.
When asked what he learned most from the postseason run, Cossa said he better understands the value of recovery.
"Just taking care of my body," Cossa said. "We got lucky with the first couple rounds being sweeps. Other than that, the last couple rounds going into the Memorial Cup, obviously your body is beat up. It's been a long season, so just taking care of it and playing your top game."
Cossa, who is 6-foot-6, 210-pounds, already has the frame of an NHL goalie.
"I'm only 19, so my body's still growing," Cossa said. "It's not done growing. I think with strength and flexibility, my body's still going to be redefined and just get more stable, more balanced. I think my entire body can improve."
And despite being a teenager, Cossa displays a maturity beyond his years.
"I put a lot of work into my game," he said. "I think I'm very confident in myself and in my game. I've already proven myself (at the junior level), so now it's going out there and playing my game."
Heading into the 2022-23 season, Cossa stressed his ultimate goal is to play the "highest level of hockey."
"No matter where I play, there's time for me to prove myself," Cossa said. "I wanna win. Whatever level I'm at, I'm playing games. I'm very competitive."