Confirmed with Link: [BUF/OTT] Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and 2026 2nd for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker

[Fezzy126]

I think it is pretty obvious that the Sabres powerplay lacks players with creativity that create time and space on the ice. They have a ton of finishers that can shoot the puck. Ottawa has a lot of creative guys in Stutzle, Giroux, and Batherson for Norris to play with on the PP. Long story short, Norris is going to bring a lot of what the Sabres already have on their PP, so I do not believe he is going to be quite the PP savior that a lot of stat watchers who see his PP points believe he will be.

While I agree that Norris brings a lot of what the Sabres already have and probably won't have quite the impact that people might think on the PP, I don't think it's creativity they're lacking. Their biggest weakness with the man advantage since Reinhart and RoR left has been bumper and net front play.

I mean the numbers with and without Zucker kind of tell the whole story (and he's not even great, more adequate than anything else):

They do have zone entry issues from time to time, but I attribute that more to coaching than anything else. Dahlin, Tage, Tuch, and Peterka are all terrific transition and zone entry guys, PP zone entry should never be a problem with the current group.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Sens Fan Here.

Norris is a clear cut #2C. If he can be healthy there is another level to his game and Norris has said that this season as well that he feels he can get to another gear. Elite 1T, Elite Wrist shot. Great 2 way play. Well above average on face offs. His play making leaves a lot to be desired. Career high of 20 assists but he isn't a bad passes. Plays just tend to die if he isn't the one finishing it. Despite being injury prone he loves to make punishing hits along the boards.

Amazing character. Loved by all his team mates and this trade has definitely delivered a big shock to the room. unsure why it couldn't wait till the summer instead it might disrupt our playoff push.


The only reasons I can think that Staios wanted to move him is the entire core was built by a prior GM/Ownership group so if they end up doing something Staios likely wants some credit on it rather than just building a supporting cast around them.

The other major reason is obviously injuries. Every game you watch Norris play you are worried if this is going to be the game where he gets his third major shoulder injury. 5 years as full time guy in the league and this might be the first time he will break the 70 game mark. (first year was pandemic).

I am hopeful he can put the injury prone tag behind him. Prior to this season we were discussing buyouts and how to get out of this contract. The concern was always that he has a 8m caphit but we can only have him for 50-70% of the games.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

It's funny because the negatives on Cozens on draft day are the same things that ended up hurting him.

I was a Dach guy that year, but he went before Cozens so I wasn't upset. I was one of the few who actually liked the pick -- it wasn't popular AT ALL here at the time.

Funnily enough, Krebs was one of the more popular wants that draft. Zegras was the other.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Funnily enough, Krebs was one of the more popular wants that draft. Zegras was the other.

Yep, although while I remember Krebs being universally liked, Zegras was much more controversial. I didn't want Zegras at all, and feel like the board was pretty split.

Brannstrom was another guy that was coveted, almost to the extent that Krebs was, in a previous draft.

 

[Fjordsen]

Funnily enough, Krebs was one of the more popular wants that draft. Zegras was the other.

Yeap, I want Zegras.

 

[Irie]

Well, I think it will help on PP, especially in contrast to Cozens. That doesn't mean we can't add a playmaker, but I think Norris fits us well as a player overall.

The truth is that what the Sabres need at center is rarely ever available via trade. I still have huge doubts that Allvin ever would have actually moved EP40, I don't think he seriously ever entertained the idea, despite what the pundits were saying. Most of the smoke came from Rutherford's rambling mind - words have always come out of his mouth that he seems to have no control over. Guy played net before helmets were a thing, and getting knocked upside the head a few dozen too many times has permanently damaged his filter.

Cozens still has the higher upside imo, and I think this trade is more change of scenery deal than an upgrade. Feels like Adams shuffling deck chairs and just some more of acquiring square pegs to hammer into triangular shaped holes. Get a real Xs and Os assistant coach, a real accomplished player development assistant coach, and a head coach that thinks that today's NHL runs on smarter hockey, and not just puck chase with more effort before rebuilding the roster. See what you have when the players are used in a way that caters to their strength, and then fill out the roster's new needs.

 

[Fjordsen]

The truth is that what the Sabres need at center is rarely ever available via trade. I still have huge doubts that Allvin ever would have actually moved EP40, I don't think he seriously ever entertained the idea, despite what the pundits were saying. Most of the smoke came from Rutherford's rambling mind - words have always come out of his mouth that he seems to have no control over. Guy played net before helmets were a thing, and getting knocked upside the head a few dozen too many times has permanently damaged his filter.

Cozens still has the higher upside imo, and I think this trade is more change of scenery deal than an upgrade. Feels like Adams shuffling deck chairs and just some more of acquiring square pegs to hammer into triangular shaped holes. Get a real Xs and Os assistant coach, a real accomplished player development assistant coach, and a head coach that thinks that today's NHL runs on smarter hockey, and not just puck chase with more effort before rebuilding the roster. See what you have when the players are used in a way that caters to their strength, and then fill out the roster's new needs.

Well, yeah, it's more of a change of scenery, but Norris is also good for us. PP, PK, speed, more defensive play than Cozens. We'll have to draft a playmaker and/or wait Ostlund.

I agree we needed a new coaching staff and a better head coaching search this summer but you see where we are, they don't want that for some strange reason.

 

[Ace]

Every frustration I’ve had with Cozens in his career was almost worth it just to hear the way people who don’t watch Sabres games describe his game today.

I never knew the Tkachuk’s had a secret blood brother hiding under a different name…but TSN told me they did.

Sirius said he will be great now because he doesn’t have to be the only tough guy…literally referencing no one jumping in for Dahlin last night…and ignoring that Cozens was the closest person standing there. Twice. They then went on to be shocked at the production Zucker had put up this year while reading his signing…just in case you weren’t quite sure they didn’t know anything about this team.

Man…if he was the guy these analysts said…I’d be really pissed to lose him

 

[Zach716]

Will he be in the lineup tomorrow?

 

[Irie]

While I agree that Norris brings a lot of what the Sabres already have and probably won't have quite the impact that people might think on the PP, I don't think it's creativity they're lacking. Their biggest weakness with the man advantage since Reinhart and RoR left has been bumper and net front play.

I mean the numbers with and without Zucker kind of tell the whole story (and he's not even great, more adequate than anything else):

View attachment 989421

I think this is because their PP is telegraphed and super static. Having a creative bumper to direct the flow and misdirection of the play negates some of the predictability of a bad PP. I really do believe that they would be much better with a creative playmaker that can create space from the half wall and open things up with more movement and drawing the D out of the passing lanes. The dedicated bumper slot forward has been countered with disciplined positioning by most teams. Having a high IQ creative forward that shifts from the wall to the front of the net to below the goal line that can act as a bumper in all situations is much harder to counter, (and also difficult to acquire, and therein lies Buffalo's biggest problem imo).

 

[HOOats]

Will he be in the lineup tomorrow?

Adams said he believed Norris would. JBD caught up in customs so no.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Adams said he believed Norris would. JBD caught up in customs so no.

he also mentioned there are more illnesses so it would be very tight to ice a full lineup tomorrow.

 

[Irie]

I agree we needed a new coaching staff and a better head coaching search this summer but you see where we are, they don't want that for some strange reason.

Yeah, and I maintain the strong belief that it doesn't really matter who Adams and company replace on the roster, when you watch them chase the puck around the zone and all end up piled on top of each other on nearly every goal scored against them, it is flat out a coaching issue and not a personnel issue. Doesn't matter who they add if Ruff has them playing the same stupid hockey - they will lose more than they win.

 

[Gras]

 

[Ace]

Because of the weekend (a reason to not have the deadline on Friday) the immigration stuff likely won’t be settled until mid next week. I wouldn’t expect to see JBD before the Golden Knights game next Saturday. I don’t believe he’s even allowed to leave the country until it’s settled so it’s not like he can be sitting at practice waiting for a text that he’s good to go.

 

[sabremike]

Yeap, I want Zegras.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Yeah, and I maintain the strong belief that it doesn't really matter who Adams and company replace on the roster, when you watch them chase the puck around the zone and all end up piled on top of each other on nearly every goal scored against them, it is flat out a coaching issue and not a personnel issue. Doesn't matter who they add if Ruff has them playing the same stupid hockey - they will lose more than they win.

Can I see this team with a competent coaching staff? Please.

 

[old kummelweck]

Well Norris has had 3 operations on his left shoulder in 5 years. Odds are he will hurt it again. Fingers crossed for him and the Sabres.

I always find the phenomenon of the fans from the other side of the trade coming to sow doubt in the other team's fans. Maybe I'll head over to the Ottawa boards and kick up a discussion of how Cozens hasn't fought off a check or won a puck battle since he got dummied by Garnet Hathaway in 2023.

 

[cybresabre]

Insert someone snapping gauntlet fingers and the rest of Sabre fandom dissolving into ash?

half the nhl teams instantly disintegrate, but not the sabres

still miss the playoffs

 

[TehDoak]

In having time to marinate a bit....does it feel like we just got a slight upgrade on McLeod on a much worse contract?

Am I way off here?

 

[Zman5778]

In having time to marinate a bit....does it feel like we just got a slight upgrade on McLeod on a much worse contract?

Am I way off here?

I think that's a bit of a simplistic, pessimistic view of things.

McLeod is certainly faster and better defensively.....but Norris is a FAR better shooter, MUCH more physically stout and just a tick below McLeod in both speed and defensive ability.

 

[Fezzy126]

Am I overthinking that this is a shot over the bow in regards to the WHL troika of Cozens, Krebs and Byram as part of their future core?

They seem to like Krebs & Byram. I wonder if this is actually a warning shot for fellow under-producer Quinn. Adams even went out of his way to use Quinn as a "hypothetical" example when talking about the vets (Zucker) mentoring the kids.



He walked it back a bit right after, but I think that was definitely a slip of the tongue.

 

[GrierIsGod123]

While I agree that Norris brings a lot of what the Sabres already have and probably won't have quite the impact that people might think on the PP, I don't think it's creativity they're lacking. Their biggest weakness with the man advantage since Reinhart and RoR left has been bumper and net front play.

I mean the numbers with and without Zucker kind of tell the whole story (and he's not even great, more adequate than anything else):

View attachment 989421

They do have zone entry issues from time to time, but I attribute that more to coaching than anything else. Dahlin, Tage, Tuch, and Peterka are all terrific transition and zone entry guys, PP zone entry should never be a problem with the current group.

I'd argue that all of the forwards struggle once they get in on getting it to the right player. I think it's been a huge issue in allowing the PP to setup and attack. They're very scrambled and could definitely use someone better at entries. Remember how automatic it was with Eichel...they don't have a guy that backs off the defense and then makes the right play afterwards.

 

[old kummelweck]

I think that's a bit of a simplistic, pessimistic view of things.

McLeod is certainly faster and better defensively.....but Norris is a FAR better shooter, MUCH more physically stout and just a tick below McLeod in both speed and defensive ability.

They really emphasized his 2-way game. Plays PP and PK. He's their second line center. McLeod is really a 3C.

Both players in this trade come with a little bit of a gamble. Norris' health and Cozen's confidence.