Sebastian Cossa Embraces New Opportunity with Utah Mammoth

Former Detroit Red Wings draft pick Sebastian Cossa is ready to embark on a new chapter in his hockey career after being traded to the Utah Mammoth on the opening day of the 2026 NHL Draft. In exchange for Cossa, the Red Wings received the 23rd overall selection, which they used to pick Kamloops Blazers forward J.P. Hurlbert, who will continue his development at the University of Michigan this upcoming season.

This trade marks a significant turning point for Cossa, whose tenure with the Red Wings was largely unfulfilled at the NHL level. With just one game of NHL experience, he now finds himself on the brink of a fresh start in Salt Lake City, where he has already signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Mammoth.

Reflecting on his transition, Cossa shared his thoughts during an appearance on the Utah Puck Report podcast with Jay Stevens of KSL Sports. He admitted that he was uncertain about what the summer would hold as a pending restricted free agent. While watching Michal Postava take the reins as the starting goaltender for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Calder Cup Playoffs, he remained focused on the present, despite hearing rumors about a potential trade.

“For me, obviously, going into RFA this summer, I’d been hearing it through the grapevine for quite a while,” Cossa explained. “I went into the playoffs with Grand Rapids. Obviously, I wasn’t playing at that point, but I was just trying to stay in the present. We were hoping for a long playoff run there, but I wasn’t worried about it too much. But obviously, as the offseason gets going, you talk about it a little more — where you’ll be next year. Still, I wasn’t too sure what was going to happen this offseason. I knew it was a possibility, but I didn’t know for sure it was happening.”

The Mammoth, previously known as the Arizona Coyotes before their relocation to Utah in 2024, have made a notable return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020. The team is recognized for its wealth of young talent, contributing to its rising status in the league. Cossa expressed his optimism about joining the organization, stating, “I’ve heard only good things about the organization, and the people reaching out to me already have made me feel comfortable already. It’s been great.”

Coming off a strong season with the Griffins, where he posted a 26-8-4 record, Cossa is poised to step into a role as Karel Vejmelka’s backup with the Mammoth. If he performs well, he could evolve into the franchise’s long-term starter, a future once anticipated during his time in Detroit. However, Cossa understands the competitive nature of the NHL and the need to earn his place.

“It’s super exciting,” he said. “It’s been a long path, and for me, it’s going there and earning the job. It’s still a big summer for me; I want to go there and earn that and show they made the right decision. For me, there’s a lot of work to go in, but obviously really excited now.”

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