The Edmonton Oilers' quest for a new goaltender hit a snag as a key target slipped through their fingers. During the first day of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings traded promising netminder Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for the 23rd overall pick. In an interesting twist, that pick was used to select JP Hurlbert, a teammate of Oilers prospect Tommy Lafrenière.
Cossa had been on the Oilers' radar for quite some time, with whispers of a potential acquisition growing louder after the Oilers' exit from the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Drafted 15th overall back in 2021, Cossa has seen limited NHL action, playing just one game where he secured a shootout victory during the 2024-25 season.
Despite his limited NHL exposure, Cossa has been honing his skills in the American Hockey League, playing for the Red Wings’ affiliates. Since his triumph with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League back in 2021-22, Cossa has been in a shared starting role over the past three seasons. His stats have been solid, boasting a .913 save percentage and a 2.41 goals against average in 2023-24, a .911 save percentage with a 2.45 goals against average in 2024-25, and a .915 save percentage with a 2.33 goals against average just last season.
However, Cossa found himself watching from the sidelines during the Grand Rapids Griffins’ Calder Cup playoff run, as Michal Postava took over the starting duties. With Trey Augustine poised to step up and Cossa facing waiver eligibility next season, the Ontario native found himself the odd man out in Detroit's plans.
The Oilers, with their first pick not coming until the 52nd spot in the draft, couldn't compete with the Mammoth's offer. This leaves them back at square one in their search for a goaltender this off-season. Whether they'll explore free agency or pursue a trade remains to be seen, but the need for a reliable netminder is clear as they look to bolster their roster.
As the off-season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Oilers to see how they address this crucial gap in their lineup.
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The harder part is sorting out the cost of adding that kind of player, because Marchments game has always carried some baggage with it. He moves around the league with a reputation as a pest, and the concerns are not about whether he can bother opponents - it is whether his penalties and defensive impact outweigh the offense when the games tighten up. Edmonton can use more scoring support, but deciding whether Marchment is the right kind of it is exactly the kind of free agency question that lingers into summer. [Read more 🡒]