<p>As the old saying goes, you can never rush a goaltender’s development.</p>



<p>In today’s game, it is rare to see netminders come right out of junior or college and head right to the NHL. Legends such as Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur cut their teeth in the minor leagues before becoming the best at their position. Even recent stars like Carey Price and Pekka Rinne found success in the American Hockey League before making it to the big leagues. </p>



<p>There are some particular positives to beginning a professional career in the minors. It gives prospects the ability to hone their craft, adjusting to the grind of a pro season while not experiencing the same pressure as battling in the spotlight in the NHL.</p>



<p>Former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton says experience in the AHL allows goaltenders to build their mental strength as well.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="143"></div>



<p>“Deal with these bumps and bursts,” Hutton explained. “Deal with getting pulled. Deal with having a shutout and then having to travel and play a back-to-back. I think you build that mental capacity on managing the game, and I think internally, that is where these guys really start to mature, and I think that’s where the value is.”</p>



<p>A good example of what not to do in that scenario can be seen in how the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/buffalo-sabres/line-combinations">Buffalo Sabres</a> approached the development of Devon Levi. Rather than letting him mature in the AHL, they threw the former Northeastern star to the wolves, and it has taken him longer to become an everyday NHLer than the struggling franchise would’ve hoped.</p>



<p>Hutton agrees that spending some time in the minors early on for Levi would’ve set him on a better path.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div>



<p>“I think that’s where Buffalo was at a disadvantage. They’ve been struggling for so many years, so when they had this great young prospect, they had to try to force the issue. They didn’t want to give him that extra seasoning, and I think that hurt his development. I don’t think Devon Levi is a goalie that is going to be an American League guy. I think he has the tools to be an NHL guy, but this is where that mental capacity comes in to sustain a season.”</p>



<p>Even when goaltenders are ready for the NHL, keeping them down a level isn’t the worst thing. Depending on the organization’s situation, staying in the AHL might be more beneficial. Getting the opportunity to play almost every game in the minors will help a young netminder develop in multiple facets, compared to sitting on the bench in the NHL, playing maybe once a week, if that.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="155"></div>



<p>Hutton mentioned the example of Vancouver Canucks backstop Arturs Silovs and other netminders like him. While the Latvian rookie wowed everyone with his performance in last year’s playoffs, there are still parts of his game that he needs to improve on if he wants to be an everyday NHLer.</p>



<p>“It’s a lot easier to play on emotion early in your career when it’s just a short little run. Every game is so important, every shot, and you’re just on the edge of your seat…I’ve seen this so many times, where the next goalie was the next big thing, but the grind of a season wears you down. That’s where mental maturity and the capacity to manage those situations really come in handy. That’s where I think you need to value that time in the AHL to learn how to be a true pro.”</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="143"></div>



<p>This conversation was prevalent with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a> last season. Yaroslav Askarov was seemingly primed and ready to take the next step, but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with their primary affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. However, with Jusse Saros obviously being the No. 1 guy in Smashville, the Preds didn’t feel like it was worth limiting Askarov’s ice time by having him serve as a backup. Askarov has looked excellent since the Preds traded him to the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/line-combinations">San Jose Sharks</a> this past summer.</p>



<p>The quality of the players, and the quality of the shooters, are far different between the AHL and NHL. While a prospect might “master” the playing style in the minors, it doesn’t mean that they will immediately become a hit in the big leagues.</p>



<p>“To make the jump from being an American League starter to an NHL starter is a lot bigger than you think. Guys don’t miss their shots, whether it’s a first-line or a fourth-liner. Whereas in the American League, there might be a little bit more breakdowns because of the lack of experience on the defensive end of the puck.”</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="187"></div>



<p>There is a concern that if a prospect is left in the minors too long, that team risks the goaltender becoming complacent, feeling comfortable in their surroundings, and leading to the netminder becoming a bust. However, Hutton believes complacency doesn’t come with being a pro athlete.</p>



<p>“You look at the best players in the world – Sidney, Crosby, Connor McDavid – these are some of the hardest-working players who have no complacency in any aspect of their lives. So, if you think for a minute that you are good enough or where you’re at, it’s always a growing pain. There’s always something you work on…so, I think complacency is death when it comes to professional athletes, especially goaltenders.”</p>



<p>Yet, <a href="https://www.mlive.com/griffins/">Grand Rapids Griffins</a> goaltender and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/detroit-red-wings/line-combinations">Detroit Red Wings</a> prospect Sebastian Cossa admits it’s something that he has been weary of over his first few years in pro hockey.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="147"></div>



<p>“To be honest, it’s tough sometimes,” Cossa said. “Especially [playing with] a strong team over the past two years, it sometimes inflates your numbers and obviously gives you that little bit extra confidence, too. I think [going to Detroit] was a good experience for me, just kind of coming back here and trying to stay as even keel as possible…continue to put the work in day by day.”</p>



<p>Cossa is involved in a peculiar situation in Hockeytown. The Red Wings brought in Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell this past offseason to join Ville Husso and Alex Lyon. At the same time, Cossa, one of the Red Wings’ first-round picks in the 2021 NHL Draft, was gearing up for another season with the Griffins.</p>



<p>The initial plan was for Cossa to play the bulk of the games with Campbell backing him up. However, with Husso having a poor start to the season, he was sent down to Grand Rapids in favor of Talbot and Lyon taking the reins. That has led to Cossa and Husso splitting time when both have been in the AHL.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="183"></div>



<p><em>Editor’s Note: Both have been called up to Detroit and have seen game action. Cossa earned his first NHL win in relief of Husso against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 9.</em></p>



<p>The issue in Grand Rapids is the fact the team is forced to juggle giving Cossa plenty of game action while ensuring Husso is playing enough to keep him ready to be recalled if Lyon and Talbot were to hit the injured list. This is despite fans across Michigan hoping Cossa would see more playing time in Grand Rapids and potentially move his name up the organizational depth chart.</p>



<p>Hutton saw himself in a similar situation as a member of the Rockford IceHogs over a decade ago. The Chicago Blackhawks sent down Alex Stalock, which forced Hutton to give up a little more of the net in order to keep the NHL-seasoned netminder ready. He admitted it’s another part of the mental game that a goaltender has to develop.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="160"></div>



<p>“It’s that happy medium of managing those guys,” Hutton said. “Plus, trying to get your younger guy to play…I think that’s when you really start to learn you can only control what you can control. I can’t control if I’m going to play every night. I’m not necessarily in a competition with my partner – I’m in a competition with myself. So, when I get an opportunity to play, I have to make the most of it.”</p>



<p>Though Cossa’s first stint in the NHL wasn’t long, the experience assured him that he has what it takes to play in the big time.</p>



<p>“You never really know until you get there,” Cossa said. “Obviously, the skill and the pace is that much higher. The execution is that much better. It was really nice to kind of get there and see what it’s actually like. Now that I’m back down here, seeing what I need to work on to stay at that level. [It was] nice to nice to get that win for sure and get that confidence, and be able to know that I can win NHL games.”</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="8" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="187"></div>



<p>Cossa is expected to be the future starting netminder with the Red Wings and arguably could be in that spot now, but he is down the depth chart with the number of contracts on Detroit’s books. However, that might change next season, with Alex Lyon in the final year of his contract and Cossa no longer being waiver-exempt. </p>



<p>Fans might get frustrated with the goaltending duo of their favorite NHL team, look at how their top prospects are doing in the AHL, and clamor for them to be called up. However, there is a method to an organization’s madness, and sometimes, a little extra development time can pay dividends.</p>



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Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Sebastian Cossa