Augustine getting closer to landing in net with Red Wings
Goalie prospect aims to take next step to 'lifelong dream' as starter with Grand Rapids of AHL
CHICAGO -- Trey Augustine knows what he’s getting into this fall.
The 21-year-old is one of the Detroit Red Wings’ top goaltending prospects and will be vying for the starting job with Grand Rapids, their American Hockey League affiliate. Given that opens the path to being the third goalie in the Red Wings system, that could lead to some work with the Red Wings, too.
“Obviously everyone wants to make the NHL. It’s your lifelong dream, lifelong goal,” Augustine said at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago on July 29. “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.
"If I’m lucky enough to get an opportunity, great. If I’m not, it’s the same approach for me. I have to be ready to go and just keep getting better every single day.”
Selected by Detroit in the second round (No. 41) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Augustine enters this season as the Red Wings’ top prospect according to NHL.com. His upside is a key reason why they traded goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth on June 26 for a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Steve Yzerman, former Red Wings general manager who will become senior adviser to owner Chris Ilitch after a successor is named, said, “We wouldn’t have traded Sebastian had we not been comfortable with the depth that we have in goal.”
Augustine got a taste of pro hockey last season when he played two games with Grand Rapids following his junior season at Michigan State. He was 0-2-0 with a 3.39 goals-against average and .878 save percentage during his AHL stint.
“It was awesome being there being around the guys, being at the rink, just getting familiar with the city," he said. "It can only help me going into the next year. If I end up there, it’s just having a sense of, ‘Oh, I know where stuff is, I know what to do.’ It was a huge month and a half where I was able to learn and it was super nice.”
Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson liked what he saw in Augustine, who will be competing with Michal Postava and Carter Gylander this season.
“(Augustine) wants to know all the details of the game," Watson said. "He’s very competitive. He does not like to get scored on. He’ll compete until the play’s done, whistle blows and the next rep comes. He stayed out extra, he went out before. He was with one of our practice groups and took a ton of shots and he didn’t complain one time. The players really appreciate it, but his work ethic is top notch.
“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. With the three we’ll have for sure in GR, everyone gives us an opportunity to win every night.”
Augustine knows how to take advantage of his chances. He did just that in his three seasons at Michigan State from 2023-26, as he was named the Big Ten’s best goalie the past two. He went 24-9-1 with a 2.11 GAA, .929 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games last season and was 19-7-4 with a 2.08 GAA, .924 save percentage and three shutouts in 30 games in 2024-25.
“I always give him a ton of credit," Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale said. "When he committed to us, we took over a program that lost 16 games straight. He wanted to make an impact and change the program around and he certainly did.”
Michigan State was Big Ten regular-season champions in 2024, 2025 and 2026, conference tournament champions in 2024 and 2025 and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament the past three season after not doing so since 2012.
“I think his lateral mobility is really good, but his hockey brain is elite," Nightingale said of Augustine. "For a goalie, that’s really critical. You have to compete, you have to be able to skate and move and all those things, but his ability to read plays (is great).
"Now he has to do it at a higher level. The game’s a little faster, guys are a little bigger.”
Augustine comes in with a lot of expectations, and he's ready to live up to them.
“I’m super excited,” he said. “Obviously this is my first professional season, and I couldn’t be happier to be with the organization. I’m really just looking forward to getting there, putting in the work and then hopefully making the NHL.”
