The Utah Mammoth have locked in Sebastian Cossa on a two-year contract with a $2 million cap hit, signaling a clear plan for the newly acquired goaltender.
Cossa was coming off his three-year entry-level deal, which carried an $863,334 cap hit, and had become a restricted free agent. Even with only one NHL appearance on his resume - which came during the 2024-25 season - the new contract reflects the value attached to one of the league’s top goaltending prospects.
The deal is straightforward: a clean $2 million salary in each season, no signing bonuses, and no clauses. Since it only covers RFA years, the contract comes with no trade protections. His comparables are Yaroslav Askarov and Carter Hart.
The contract also makes the Mammoth’s plan look pretty obvious. Cossa is expected to be part of the NHL roster alongside Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka has started at least 50 games in four of his five NHL seasons, including 58 and 64 in the last two years, so even if Utah doesn’t use a full 1A/1B setup, Cossa should still take pressure off the workload.
Utah landed Cossa from the Detroit Red Wings at the 2026 NHL Draft, sending the 23rd overall pick the other way. Detroit used that selection on J.P. Hurlbert.
Cossa arrives after his strongest AHL season, when he went 26-8-4 with a .915 save percentage and five shutouts. But he lost the starting job for the playoffs to Michal Postava, and that fueled rumors that the Red Wings were open to moving him, especially with Trey Augustine also in the organization.
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