Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2021 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Sebastian Cossa Scouting Report.
2012 was the last time there were two goaltenders selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. With Jesper Wallstedt highly likely to be the first goalie off the board this year, Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Sebastian Cossa will try to make it two first-rounders again. A second-round pick, 36th overall, by the Oil Kings in the 2017 WHL Draft, Cossa has been impressive in his time in the WHL. This season he was limited to just 19 games due to the COVID shortened season. He had a 17-1-1 record with a .941 save percentage and 1.57 goals-against average. Cossa also had four shutouts. His performance was, quite simply, dominant.
In 2019-20, Cossa played 33 games. He put up a 21-6-3 record with a .921 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average. He also added four shutouts. Unfortunately, the global pandemic prevented Cossa from getting any playoff experience. In 2018-19 he played in two games for Team Canada White at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. He had an .895 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. He also played for Team Alberta at the 2017 WHL Cup, making it to the final before losing.
Sebastian Cossa Scouting Report
Goaltender — shoots Left — Catches Left
Born November 21st, 2002 — Fort McMurray, Alberta
Height 6’6″ — Weight 203 lbs [198 cm / 92 kg]
Skating and Talent Analysis
Coming in at 6’6″, Cossa has the type of ideal size that NHL teams are looking for in a modern goalie prospect. He takes advantage of his size and gives shooters little net to look at with his strong positioning. He gets out to the top of the crease and cuts down angles well. He’s not one to get outside of his crease, but given his frame and his ability to stay square to the puck, Cossa doesn’t need to. Cossa has strong legs and good movement. His puck tracking is very good and he gets side-to-side quickly, always being in the right position to challenge the shooter. By playing a slight bit deeper than most goalies he can get side to side quickly and make saves on cross-ice passes. Cossa’s legs are strong and he gets up and down in the butterfly quickly.
Cossa is so tall that when he does go down in the butterfly, his shoulders still reach the crossbar and his frame takes up much of the net. His glove as well as his blocker are solid. This helps him take away the top of the net. Like many young goaltenders, Cossa could work on his rebound control. It is good for his age but more improvements are necessary. He does a good job of sealing the post when the puck is down below the goal line.
Cossa is also a good puck handler. He gets out of his crease quickly and retrieves dump-ins. He can act as a third defenceman for his teams, starting the breakout and moving the puck up the ice. Cossa takes advantage of teams making a slow line change with the ability to throw a long breakaway pass to a teammate.
Mental Make-Up
Playing on the Oil Kings, there are times when Cossa is not seeing a lot of action at his end of the ice. Despite this, he stays focused and is always ready for the next opportunity. Playing on a team where you don’t see a lot of shots can test a goalie’s focus but Cossa has come through this with flying colours. He has also shown the ability to slow the play down and get a faceoff in the times his team is running around their own end. Defenders rely on Cossa to keep his cool under pressure. Even when he gives up a goal, he doesn’t let it get to him. Cossa is ready to make the next save and does not linger on mistakes.
Projection and Comparison
Cossa has everything needed to be a top goaltender at the next level but will need some time. Expect to see him back with the Oil Kings next season. He should also challenge for the starting spot on Team Canada at the World Juniors. Like many young goalies continued improvements on his rebound control and facing better shooters will be needed. He is a long-term project but one who could become a franchise goalie for his team. Expect Cossa to need at least a couple of years of AHL action after his junior career is done. Cossa’s game is reminiscent of Ben Bishop, but this is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on skill and ability.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Sebastian Cossa that are available on youtube.
Check back tomorrow for our latest NHL Draft Article
Sebastian Cossa Scouting Report Main Photo:
KELOWNA, BC – NOVEMBER 26: Sebastian Cossa #33 of the Edmonton Oil Kings defends the net during the third period against the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on November 26, 2019, in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
