What happened: Sebastian Cossa has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Utah Mammoth worth roughly $2 million per season, per insider Frank Seravalli. The deal comes days after Utah acquired the towering goaltender from Detroit during the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. The Red Wings sent Cossa west in exchange for the 23rd overall pick, which they used on Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert.
Why it matters: The move locks up a netminder many project as a future NHL starter while signaling a reset in Detroit's crease plans. For Utah, the extension provides cost certainty as the franchise evaluates whether the 23-year-old is ready to shoulder a heavier workload behind incumbent Karel Vejmelka. It marks a clean fresh start for a former first-round pick whose Detroit chapter ended sooner than many expected.
By the numbers: Cossa, taken 15th overall by Detroit in 2021, spent this past season with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, posting a 26-8-4 record with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage across 39 appearances. The 6-foot-6 goaltender's frame and draft pedigree make him one of the more intriguing crease prospects to change organizations this offseason.
What to watch: Watch whether Utah eases Cossa into NHL duty with spot starts or pushes him for a larger role alongside Vejmelka heading into 2026-27. His AHL track record suggests the bigger workload could come sooner than later.