Sebastian Cossa, the highly regarded goaltending prospect for the Detroit Red Wings, took on the backup role in Game Two for the Grand Rapids Griffins. His development during the second half of the season hasn’t met expectations, though he’s not the only one experiencing struggles. Still, Cossa’s path forward appears more challenging compared to previous seasons.
Griffins fans have been fortunate, and as Red Wings supporters, we’ve watched Cossa develop with relatively few setbacks. But the truth is, growth—especially in pro hockey—is rarely linear. Aside from not securing the starting spot for Team Canada at the World Juniors, Cossa has largely avoided major obstacles. That makes this season’s stagnation more noticeable.
Now, let’s check in on five Detroit Red Wings prospects with the Griffins, who are now on the brink of elimination.
It was a cool spring evening in downtown Grand Rapids as my mom and I made our way back to my car, affectionately named “Skunkette” due to her unexpected black-and-white color scheme that reminds me of a skunk rather than Darth Vader, which was the original inspiration.
This time, we parked in a different garage—an improvement from last time’s disaster. However, elevators in downtown Grand Rapids seem to have a sixth sense for fear. We found ourselves in a stairwell at first, but bad knees forced us to seek an elevator.
As we neared what felt like the gates of doom, the smell of cigar smoke filled the air. The odor only intensified when the elevator opened. Despite the warning signs, we boarded. My mom, who suffers from claustrophobia—especially in warm, enclosed spaces—pressed the correct floor. But then, the doors wouldn’t open.
In a moment of desperation, I resorted to my old button-mashing strategy—something my late cousin always teased me about during Tekken Tag battles. Surprisingly, it worked. The elevator opened on the third floor, and we bolted out like we’d been set free from a trap.
That experience put things into perspective. What I’d considered a disappointing night in Grand Rapids turned into a moment of clarity. When you escape a malfunctioning elevator, suddenly a bad game doesn’t seem so bad.
Unfortunately, the Griffins themselves seemed to lose momentum halfway through the season. Whether it’s due to injuries, roster issues, or frequent call-ups, the team hasn’t been the same. The unstable goalie rotation—especially after Ville Husso’s return—further complicated things. While Husso excelled, Cossa struggled to find consistency after being promised a larger role.
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