- Trey Augustine will compete for the starting job with Detroit’s AHL affiliate this fall
- The 2026 Mike Richter Award winner became the Red Wings’ top prospect after the Cossa trade
- Read below for Augustine’s own words and what his Grand Rapids coach says about him
Trey Augustine already knows where his first pro season starts, and it is not Detroit.
The 21-year-old goalie will fight for the No. 1 job with Grand Rapids, the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate. Augustine was asked at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago what reaching the NHL would mean to him, and he did not dress it up.
“Obviously everyone wants to make the NHL. It’s your lifelong dream, lifelong goal. I just need to go in there and do what I do. I need to play my best, be a great teammate, do the little things right and the rest will take care of itself.”
Winning the Griffins crease would make him the third goalie in the Detroit system, which is close enough to matter. Tracey Myers of NHL.com laid out that path.
Detroit cleared the runway back in June, shipping Sebastian Cossa to Utah on June 26 for a first-round pick.
Steve Yzerman was asked why the Red Wings were willing to move a former first-rounder out of the crease.
“We wouldn’t have traded Sebastian had we not been comfortable with the depth that we have in goal,” Yzerman said.
Augustine signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 31 and finished the year in Grand Rapids on an amateur tryout:
He arrived with hardware. Augustine won the 2026 Mike Richter Award as the best goalie in college hockey after going 24-9-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average, a career-best .929 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games at Michigan State.
That award landed the same night as his pro debut, a 26-save loss to Chicago. Augustine went 0-2-0 with a .878 save percentage in two AHL games, and he talked about what the short stint gave him.
“It was awesome being there being around the guys, being at the rink, just getting familiar with the city. It was a huge month and a half where I was able to learn and it was super nice.”
Griffins coach Dan Watson was asked what stood out about Augustine in those practices.
“He wants to know all the details of the game. He’s very competitive. He does not like to get scored on. He stayed out extra, he went out before. The players really appreciate it, but his work ethic is top notch,” Watson said.
Nobody is handing him the job. Augustine is up against Michal Postava and Carter Gylander, who re-signed in Detroit in July after a .942 save percentage in eight AHL games.
Watch Augustine break down his game on NHL Network’s First Shift:
Watson is not hiding that he wants to watch the whole thing play out.
“Trey and Postava will be pushing to make a great first impression. I’m looking forward to seeing this goalie battle and see where everybody lands,” Watson said.
Three goalies, one crease, and Augustine walks in with the loudest résumé of the group.
