Cossa, in his second full season with the Griffins, has a 14-8-3 document with a 2.20 goals-against common and .920 save proportion in 25 appearances with the Griffins this season.
The 22-year-old netminder notably recorded his first NHL victory throughout his Pink Wings debut in a 6-5 shootout highway win over the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 9.
“I’ve recognized [Cossa] since Day 1, so it’s fairly neat to see his development and what he’s meant to us,” Watson stated. “He’s nonetheless a younger prospect fine-tuning his sport, however he offers us a possibility to win each time he’s in web. It’s particular to see that. For him and his spouse to be there and spend that point collectively, a particular second for them.”
As for Austin Watson, amid his first marketing campaign with Detroit’s AHL-affiliate, the 32-year-old ahead ranks second on the staff in scoring with 29 factors (12 targets, 17 assists) via 41 video games.
“[Austin Watson] had his two ladies there with him,” Dan Watson stated. “I do know they loved the time. What he means to us on the ice — he’s a bodily presence, however he’s additionally taking part in some massive minutes in each scenario. Within the room, he holds guys accountable. He’s passionate in regards to the sport of hockey, about successful. He needs to win, so he’s creating that tradition of creating certain guys are competing, battling and doing it the suitable approach. To me, he’s extraordinarily precious for us as a training workers and inside our locker room.”
In 2023-24, his first season as head coach, Watson guided the Griffins to a second-place end within the Central Division with a 37-23-8-4 document (86 factors). Clinching a Calder Cup Playoffs spot for the primary time since 2019, Grand Rapids took down the Rockford IceHogs within the Central Division Semifinals earlier than falling to the Milwaukee Admirals within the Central Division Remaining.
“The primary yr, you’re figuring every part out,” Watson stated. “You’re seeing how the sport is performed on the American-League degree, seeing how groups in your division play and the way coaches coach. I used to be in that spot for lots of years. I used to be considerably my very own boss on the hockey aspect of issues, so it’s nice to have Shawn [Horcoff], Steve [Yzerman], Dan [Cleary] and all these guys round to offer their perspective on the sport. Final yr was actually an amazing studying expertise.”
All that studying is paying off for Watson, who stated he feels much more snug this season.
“Over {the summertime}, simply fine-tuned some teaching abilities like accountability and management,” he stated. “All these issues I believe I’ve grown in and now simply anticipate extra out of our guys. I anticipate extra out of myself and our workers, simply tips on how to deal with these gamers. They’re actually one step from stepping foot on NHL ice and realizing their dream or getting again to the NHL.”
Watching homegrown gamers like Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, Albert Johansson, Elmer Soderblom and even Dominik Shine – who made his NHL debut on Jan. 28 – contribute to the Pink Wings’ current success has additionally been thrilling for Watson.
