Dan Cleary Celebrates Sebastian Cossa’s New Chapter with Utah Mammoth

Detroit Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa has found himself at a crucial juncture in his career. After being selected 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa’s status with the Red Wings shifted as he became no longer waivers-exempt and faced the looming challenge of restricted free agency on July 1. Instead of extending his contract, the Red Wings opted to trade him to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for the 23rd overall pick in the 2026 Draft.

Following the trade, Cossa secured a two-year deal with a salary cap hit of $2 million. The Mammoth also made a significant move by trading backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek to the New York Islanders, clearing the way for Cossa to potentially launch his NHL career. With only one game of NHL experience—where he came in to relieve Ville Husso against the Buffalo Sabres in December 2024, helping the Red Wings clinch a 6-5 shootout victory—Cossa is eager to seize this new opportunity.

On the final day of Development Camp, Red Wings Director of Player Development Dan Cleary spoke highly of Cossa, emphasizing his strong character. “Sebastian is a good man,” Cleary remarked. “I really liked working with Sebastian. He’s on the goalie side, and I like to tell him, ‘I don’t really know a lot about goalies, but I certainly know a lot about character and trying to help you and move along.'” Cleary’s words reflect the admiration and support Cossa has garnered during his time with the organization.

As Cossa embarks on this new journey with the Mammoth, Cleary expressed his happiness for the young goaltender. “Sebastian is a really good person. I’m happy for him that he gets an opportunity in Utah, and I wish him all the best,” he said. Cossa’s last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins was impressive, finishing with a record of 26-8-4, a goals-against average of 2.33, and a save percentage of .915. As he prepares for this new chapter, the anticipation surrounding his future is palpable.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.