The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly eyeing Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa as a potential addition to their crease, even as they pursue free agent Connor Ingram to tandem with Tristan Jarry. According to a report by Jim Matheson, the Oilers have long coveted Cossa, who has spent three seasons in the American Hockey League.
Cossa's Background and Trade Value
Cossa, 23, was selected 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, five spots ahead of Minnesota's Jesper Wallstedt. At 6-foot-6 and athletic, he is considered ready for NHL action, similar to Stuart Skinner's trajectory when he graduated from Bakersfield to Edmonton. However, Detroit is seeking a first-round pick in return, a price the Oilers cannot easily meet. Edmonton lacks a first-round selection in the 2024 draft and does not hold one in 2027, though they have a 2028 first-rounder—a distant asset Detroit may find less appealing.
Other Suitors for Cossa
The Utah Hockey Club also emerges as a potential trade partner. Utah holds the 19th overall pick and could use a goaltender to back up Karel Vejmelka after Vitek Vanecek faltered last season. The Vancouver Canucks, with picks No. 4 and No. 29, might seem logical, but they expect Thatcher Demko to return alongside Kevin Lankinen and have prospects Alexei Medvedev and Aku Koskenvuo in their system.
Oilers' Proposal and Prospect Depth
To acquire Cossa, the Oilers could offer their second-round pick (52nd overall) along with a prospect like Bakersfield winger Quinn Hutson, who scored 30 goals and 63 points last season but faces a logjam in Edmonton's top nine. Defenseman Beau Akey, a former second-round pick with strong skating but slight build (173 pounds), might also be dangled. The Oilers have their own goaltending prospects—Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day, Eemil Vinni, and Connor Ungar—but Detroit's deep pipeline (Trey Augustine, Michal Postava, Michal Pradel, Rudy Guimond) reduces their interest in such players.
Contract and Fit
Cossa is a restricted free agent, meaning his next contract would be affordable, potentially pairing him with Jarry ($5.38 million cap hit). The Oilers see him as a Brandon Bussi-type acquisition—a young goalie ready to contribute at the NHL level. As the draft approaches, the Cossa saga remains unresolved, with Edmonton hoping to strike a deal without sacrificing future assets.
