Michal Postava’s first NHL start gave the Red Wings something they almost never get from their own pipeline: a win from a homegrown goalie right out of the gate.
Detroit’s undrafted free-agent signing from the summer of 2025 went into Edmonton and helped knock off Connor McDavid and the Oilers on the road, a debut that left coach Todd McLellan sounding every bit as pleased as the result deserved.
“Postava, we’re so excited for him and happy for him,” McLellan told reporters after the game. “Sometimes that’s how it happens. A goalie gets a start such as this one and plays really well and gets the win.
It was a night that stood out even more when set against Detroit’s long history in goal. Since 1990, only 12 homegrown goalies have made their NHL debut between the pipes for the Red Wings, and Postava became just the fifth of that group to win his first NHL start. He’s also only the third Detroit goalie to do it since 2005.
The Red Wings have been high on Postava since bringing him in as an undrafted free agent. He was steady and reliable with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins last season, and he’s been even stingier so far this year. When he was called up, Cossa was 4-0 with a 1.25 GAA and .954 save percentage for the Griffins.
McLellan praised the traits that have pushed Postava into this spot.
“He may be smaller than some of the monsters that are in the league right now, but he is very athletic,” McLellan said. “We think that he anticipates so well he can read where the shot release is going. He gets into position, and then there’s not a lot that lays around after.”
Postava closed the night by stopping all three shootout attempts he faced, including McDavid’s.
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Postava told reporters. “Like, he’s one of the best players that ever played. And I’m just happy now and don’t have words.”
For a franchise that has often looked elsewhere for goaltending, that mattered. Detroit has typically spent on goalies, signing free agents or swinging trades for proven names. Homegrown netminders have been the exception, not the rule.
Postava was the first Red Wings goalie to make his first NHL start for Detroit since Jared Coreau, who took a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 3, 2016. He’s also the first to win his first NHL start in a Detroit sweater since Petr Mrazek beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on February 7, 2013.
The list of previous winners in that category includes Jimmy Howard, who beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2 on Nov. 28, 2005; Norm Maracle, who earned a 4-3 win over Edmonton on March 17, 1996; and Kevin Hodson, who blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 on January 6, 1996.
Not every debut followed that script. Chris Osgood lost 6-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 15, 1993 in his first NHL start, while Scott King’s first start for Detroit came on January 28, 1991 against the New Jersey Devils, a 6-2 loss in which he did not factor in the decision.
Some Red Wings goalies made their NHL debuts in relief rather than in a first start. Sebastian Cossa did so on December 9, 2024 against the Buffalo Sabres, Tom McCollum on March 30, 2011 against St.
Louis, Kaden Fulcher on April 6, 2019 against Buffalo, and Dave Gagnon on January 26, 1991 against St. Louis.
None of them went on to make an NHL start for Detroit. Cossa did, however, get the win in his NHL debut against the Sabres.
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