Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is not someone who likes to have all of his eggs in one basket. So, as much as he and the team’s development staff are impressed by the work of young goalie Michal Postava, Yzerman will likely be looking to sign an insurance policy between the posts when the NHL UFA signing period begins on July 1.

“Regarding Michal, we’re very impressed with the season he had last year [with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins] and his playing the playoffs,” Yzerman said. “Having said that, it’s just his first year over [here in North America].”

Yzerman often likes to say that he doesn’t like the idea of leaving a position open for a younger player. He’d much rather that they perform so well that they effectively push a veteran player out of their role.

In essence, that’s what Postava did during his rookie season in Grand Rapids. He usurped the No. 1 role and, in the process, the role as Detroit’s top goaltending prospect from Sebastian Cossa. In 25 AHL games, Postava was showing a 1.71 GAA and a .937 save percentage. He posted four shutouts and was 17-6-0.

Still, that doesn’t guarantee that Postava, 24, is ready for a prime-time NHL role.

Red Wings Likely to Seek a Journeyman Netminder

Yzerman won’t be looking to sign someone like Cam Talbot, last season’s backup to John Gibson. Talbot would expect to be an NHL goalie.

Yzerman will be looking for a goalie who is more versatile in his destination choices. They will want to ink a netminder who is capable of playing regularly in the NHL, but will also be comfortable in the AHL, serving as a mentor to incoming rookie Trey Augustine.

“We’ll look at all the various options leading into the free agency period and offseason and decide what is the best option for us to go with John to start the season is,” Yzerman said.

In all honesty, there’s not much choice among his options. There are a few goalies that Yzerman is familiar with on the UFA list. However, it’s unlikely that veterans like James Reimer or Petr Mrazek will be interested in playing in the AHL.

Eric Comrie is a possibility. He played three games for the Red Wings in 2019-20. Winnipeg’s backup the past two seasons, Comrie also has 11 seasons of AHL experience. Pheonix Copley is a veteran AHL goalie who also has 78 NHL games on his resume.

Every goalie we’ve listed here, except Mrazek, made less than $1 million last season.

Yzerman will simply be looking to give himself some options. A Plan B, if you will.

If Postava continues to shine through training camp and the NHL preseason, no worries. He’ll be starting the season as part of Detroit’s goalie tandem.

However, if Postava hits a rough patch and struggles, having that journeyman veteran, another goalie in the system with NHL games on his resume, will prove invaluable.