NHL Prospect Watch – Detroit Red Wings

In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!

We continue with the prospect pool of the Detroit Red Wings.

Sebastian Cossa
A WHL Champion with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2022, goaltender Sebastian Cossa appeared in 56 regular season and playoff games over his first season of professional hockey last winter after being selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. At ECHL Toledo, Cossa posted a .913 save percentage over 46 games, winning 26 times all while recording four shutouts. He took part in the ECHL All-Star Game and was named that league’s Goaltender of the Month in March. Cossa, who hails from Fort McMurray, Alta., went 5-2-0 during the Kelly Cup Playoffs, and also made his first three AHL appearances with the Grand Rapids Griffins. As an Oil King, Cossa won 71 of his 98 regular season games, all while earning a .921 save percentage and 14 shutouts. He posted five clean sheets in Edmonton’s run to the 2022 WHL Championship.

10 straight wins for @SebastianCossa 😳 pic.twitter.com/W6HWArr0Uz

— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) March 19, 2023

Nate Danielson
The ninth-overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, forward Nate Danielson led the Brandon Wheat Kings with 78 points during the 2022-23 WHL season. Danielson, from Red Deer, Alta., served as co-captain of the Wheat Kings in 2022-23 and set career bests in goals (33), assists (45) and points (78) after earning 57 points as a 17-year-old in 2021-22. For his efforts, Danielson was named to the East Division Second All-Star Team. He signed an entry-level contract with the Red Wings in July, and enters his 19-year-old season with career totals of 150 points (59G-91A) in his 145 WHL regular season contests.

UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed forward Nate Danielson to a three-year entry-level contract.

📰 » https://t.co/0l75OJdKXJ pic.twitter.com/hnT2m7b2WU

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 12, 2023

Emmitt Finnie
After a breakout 2022-23 season with the Kamloops Blazers, forward Emmitt Finnie was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. Finnie, who calls Lethbridge, Alta. home, found his groove in the second half of the WHL season, finishing the campaign with nine goals and 35 points before adding seven points (4G-3A) from Kamloops’ 14 post-season affairs. With the Blazers, Finnie also took part in the 2023 Memorial Cup, appearing in four games on the Sandman Centre home ice. Originally selected by Kamloops in the fourth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Finnie has accrued 41 points (9G-32A) from his 112 career WHL regular season contests.

That’s points in 15 STRAIGHT for Emmitt Finnie!🔥 He opens the scoring tonight! 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/wUC5zUYVYE

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) April 15, 2023

Cross Hanas
A second-round selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL Draft, forward Cross Hanas made the jump to pro hockey in 2022-23. The former Portland Winterhawk posted 17 points (9G-8A) for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins last winter despite being limited to 30 regular season contests. Hanas, a product of Highland Village, Texas, shone offensively over his four seasons in Portland, topping out at 86 points (26G-60A) during the 2021-22 season, during which he was named to the U.S. Division First All-Star Team. Overall, Hanas collected 161 points (58G-103A) over his 196 regular season games with the Winterhawks.

Cross Hanas amassed 17 points (9-8—17) in 30 games during his rookie campaign with the Griffins #GoGRG

FULL REVIEW >> https://t.co/JXyytviSMn pic.twitter.com/ZOhfTdQ3ly

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) June 20, 2023