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Carolina Hurricanes: Updated Top 3 2021 NHL Entry Draft 1st Round Targets

By Matthew Nidiffer

Apr 12, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod BrindÕAmour looks on from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod BrindÕAmour looks on from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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CALGARY, AB – MARCH 27: Sebastian Cossa #33 of the Edmonton Oil Kings in action against the Calgary Hitmen during a WHL game at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on March 27, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – MARCH 27: Sebastian Cossa #33 of the Edmonton Oil Kings in action against the Calgary Hitmen during a WHL game at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on March 27, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

2. Sebastian Cossa (G)

I know, I know. I already know what you’re thinking. “But Matt, don’t we already have enough goalies?!?!”

My answer to that question will always be that there is no such thing as “enough goalies”. Good goaltenders are a hot commodity these days, and really good ones even more so.

Regardless, my 2nd choice for a potential 2021 1st round target is none other than Sebastian Cossa of the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Cossa, a 6’6 212lbs behemoth of a goalie, has been nothing short of an absolute stud his entire WHL tenure. This season, he boasts an impressive 11-0-0 undefeated record, a .942 SV% alongside a 1.45 GAA and a single shutout in his 11 games played.

His rookie season in the WHL? Pure dominance. In 33 games played, Cossa registered an impressive 21-6-3 win/loss record, .921 SV%, and a 2.23 GAA.

Even in his earlier AMHL days, Cossa never registered a save percentage value lower than .915% while simultaneously standing on his head in the playoffs before being drafted into the WHL.

Here are a few quotes on what analysts and scouts have to say about him:

"Cossa combines fluid crease shuffles with compact movements and limits the amount of time he spends on his back or his pads. He’s not much of a risk-taker and if Cossa gets beat, it’s rarely from his own egregious mistake or over-committal to one side. – Steven Kournianos, thedraftanalysis.com"

"Cossa comes into his draft year as the sure-fire second-best goalie. If not for a superstar goalie in Wallstedt, Cossa would find himself as the best goalie in this class, he’s proved to be that good… After an exceptional D-1 season, Cossa projects to be an NHL starting goalie and continues to improve and rise up draft boards. – Danny Tiffany, dobberprospects.com"

I know the Carolina Hurricanes have very solid goaltending prospects in Eetu Makiniemi and Jack LaFontaine (Pyotr Kochetkov remains a promising question mark), and with Alex Nedeljkovic’s meteoric rise, it might not make a ton of sense to spend a highly-coveted 1st round pick on a goaltender, but if the Canes did want to shore up their goaltending prospect pool (and in my opinion, they need to), Cossa is the goalie to take a swing on.

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