Prospect Info: Dylan Cozens, C/RW, 2019 7th overall, Lethbridge (WHL) --- Signed to ELC

[Bendium]

I still see him as a winger in the NHL

Not sure he has the skill and vision to be a top 6 centre. But I love the thought of him on Eichel’s RW.

I would not waste even one shift with him on the wing unless he struggles at center. At his age and development reps are everything. I have not seen anything in his game that shows he is not likely to make it as a center, including his career 53% faceoff percentage. He even noted recently that faceoffs is an area he is putting a lot of work into and wants to get much better at. I think the kid is on the right track to be a solid if not better than that center. Moving him to wing or playing him 3/4th line center minutes in the NHL next year seems like a desperate move. Give him the time to work on core hockey skills at levels he can dominate without the pressure of expectations and performance that come with playing on a poor NHL team desperate for wins.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Because everything sucks right now, it’s good to remind ourselves we at least have this guy in the pipeline.

 

[57special]

Pretty good, but he's no Beckman.

 

[Buffaloed]

I see him as the man who saves Botterill's job. He's going to be a beast next season.

 

[sabrebuild]

I see him as the man who saves Botterill's job. He's going to be a beast next season.

We deserve a good outcome. Him walking into the lineup as a 45 point player would be an enormous improvement to depth scoring.

 

[explore]

I see him as the man who saves Botterill's job. He's going to be a beast next season.

I’d prefer it if we didn’t keep rushing teenagers who aren’t Eichel or Dahlin-caliber prospects into the NHL.

I want the Sabres to bring him along slowly, similar to what Winnipeg did with Mark Sheifele. I’d rather have him come in and be able to contribute 2-3 years from now, than rush him into the NHL and have him turn into Mittelstadt or Girgensons.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I’d prefer it if we didn’t keep rushing teenagers who aren’t Eichel or Dahlin-caliber prospects into the NHL.

I want the Sabres to bring him along slowly, similar to what Winnipeg did with Mark Sheifele. I’d rather have him come in and be able to contribute 2-3 years from now, than rush him into the NHL and have him turn into Mittelstadt or Girgensons.

We won't know if playing him the NHL next year is rushing him until next year gets here.

 

[explore]

We won't know if playing him the NHL next year is rushing him until next year gets here.

With the awful forward depth on this team, him showing up will probably be enough to gift him a spot. It happened with Grigorenko, Girgensons, Mittelstadt, and I may be missing others. It'll be more likely if Botterill is desperate to save his job.

The 2003-2004 lockout forced guys like Vanek, Roy, and Pominville to spend a year in the AHL instead of jumping straight to the NHL and it did them a lot of good. Even if Cozens is capable of playing in the NHL next year, he'll benefit from spending a year in the AHL first.

 

[Ehran]

Even if Cozens is capable of playing in the NHL next year, he'll benefit from spending a year in the AHL first.

But Cozens can't go to the AHL next year. The choice will be either with the Sabres or back to his WHL team.

 

[explore]

But Cozens can't go to the AHL next year. The choice will be either with the Sabres or back to his WHL team.

I didn't know that, then I'd rather he spend another year in the WHL. I'd rather be cautious with the only promising forward prospect the Sabres have than rush him.

 

[Buffaloed]

Took this from the Amerks thread

 

[toomuchsauce]

co-zens with 3+1 tonight and 9(!) SOG

 

[Samsonite23]

co-zens with 3+1 tonight and 9(!) SOG

Damn, I gotta start watching Lethbridge. Have been too demoralized to watch as much puck as I used to.

 

[Howie Hodge]

7'th in points in WHL, less games played than any above him. Second in ppg, and just by a small percentage...

Rk	Name	Adam Beckman	18	F	52	40	47	87	12	32	14	1	6	0.769	0.904	1.673
2		James Hamblin	20	F	53	33	48	81	35	25	5	3	6	0.623	0.906	1.528
3		Zane Franklin	20	F	52	26	51	77	76	26	12	1	2	0.500	0.981	1.481
4		Seth Jarvis	17	F	46	30	42	72	20	31	8	1	6	0.652	0.913	1.565
5		Orrin Centazzo	19	F	52	36	32	68	29	22	13	1	6	0.692	0.615	1.308
6		Connor Zary	18	F	46	31	37	68	43	25	13	3	4	0.674	0.804	1.478
7		Dylan Cozens	18	F	40	29	37	66	28	27	7	3	5	0.725	0.925	1.650
8		Riley Sawchuk	20	F	52	23	42	65	19	22	5	2	2	0.442	0.808	1.250
9		Eli Zummack	19	F	53	19	45	64	16	25	3	0	5	0.358	0.849	1.208
10		Brett Kemp	19	F	53	24	39	63	37	16	8	1	5	0.453	0.736	1.189

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Cozens is the best prospect we have drafted the last 5 years aside from Dahlin and Eichel. Him going back to the WHL after this season is pointless. He already dominated as an 18 year old D+1 #7 overall pick. Comparing him to Grigs, Girgs and Mitts is pointless since he is a far better prospect then those 3 ever were and had a far better D+1 season then those 3 combined.


Very few top 7 picks spend 2 years in the CHL after being drafted. He is getting the 9 games guaranteed. Cozens D+1 season in the WHL is much better then Reinharts was. And Cozens is a better skater, stronger and bigger then Reinhart was. Sam came to Buffalo in his D+2, Cozens will also.

 

[Taytro]

Cozens is the best prospect we have drafted the last 5 years aside from Dahlin and Eichel. Him going back to the WHL after this season is pointless. He already dominated as an 18 year old D+1 #7 overall pick. Comparing him to Grigs, Girgs and Mitts is pointless since he is a far better prospect then those 3 ever were and had a far better D+1 season then those 3 combined.


Very few top 7 picks spend 2 years in the CHL after being drafted. He is getting the 9 games guaranteed. Cozens D+1 season in the WHL is much better then Reinharts was. And Cozens is a better skater, stronger and bigger then Reinhart was. Sam came to Buffalo in his D+2, Cozens will also.

Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Bendium]

7'th in points in WHL, less games played than any above him. Second in ppg, and just by a small percentage...

Rk	Name	Adam Beckman	18	F	52	40	47	87	12	32	14	1	6	0.769	0.904	1.673
2		James Hamblin	20	F	53	33	48	81	35	25	5	3	6	0.623	0.906	1.528
3		Zane Franklin	20	F	52	26	51	77	76	26	12	1	2	0.500	0.981	1.481
4		Seth Jarvis	17	F	46	30	42	72	20	31	8	1	6	0.652	0.913	1.565
5		Orrin Centazzo	19	F	52	36	32	68	29	22	13	1	6	0.692	0.615	1.308
6		Connor Zary	18	F	46	31	37	68	43	25	13	3	4	0.674	0.804	1.478
7		Dylan Cozens	18	F	40	29	37	66	28	27	7	3	5	0.725	0.925	1.650
8		Riley Sawchuk	20	F	52	23	42	65	19	22	5	2	2	0.442	0.808	1.250
9		Eli Zummack	19	F	53	19	45	64	16	25	3	0	5	0.358	0.849	1.208
10		Brett Kemp	19	F	53	24	39	63	37	16	8	1	5	0.453	0.736	1.189

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2nd on that list James Hamblin is an undrafted free agent. He is a bit small for center at the NHL level (5'10" and 180 lbs), but could make a good 2-way winger at the NHL level.

 

[Bendium]

Cozens is the best prospect we have drafted the last 5 years aside from Dahlin and Eichel. Him going back to the WHL after this season is pointless. He already dominated as an 18 year old D+1 #7 overall pick. Comparing him to Grigs, Girgs and Mitts is pointless since he is a far better prospect then those 3 ever were and had a far better D+1 season then those 3 combined.


Very few top 7 picks spend 2 years in the CHL after being drafted. He is getting the 9 games guaranteed. Cozens D+1 season in the WHL is much better then Reinharts was. And Cozens is a better skater, stronger and bigger then Reinhart was. Sam came to Buffalo in his D+2, Cozens will also.

I have been on record as one that does not want to see him rushed. He was on a 1.5 ppg paces with a lot of room to grow in the first half of his season, but has been closer to 2 ppg the second half. If he holds that level of production over the full coarse of his second half.....then he may be closer to making the jump. This is the kind of situation where I hate that the AHL is not an option. I would love for him to be able to play a full year in the AHL getting top 1C minutes and responsibilities rather than getting 3rd/4th line minutes at the NHL or worse playing wing.

 

[Dex]

I have been on record as one that does not want to see him rushed. He was on a 1.5 ppg paces with a lot of room to grow in the first half of his season, but has been closer to 2 ppg the second half. If he holds that level of production over the full coarse of his second half.....then he may be closer to making the jump. This is the kind of situation where I hate that the AHL is not an option. I would love for him to be able to play a full year in the AHL getting top 1C minutes and responsibilities rather than getting 3rd/4th line minutes at the NHL or worse playing wing.

I was just going to make a similar post. Cozens is leading the WHL in Gals/game (0.78), Points per game (1.73) and is 4th in Assists pr game (0.95) and as you pointed out - most of those numbers really jumped in the second half. Many here were flat out declaring that he needs another year in junior and that he really needs to dominate to change that thought. Well - he's dominating.

Depending how he plays in the development camp, then the prospects tournament, then training camp - if he shows he's ready, I think he gets the 9 games. We'll see what happens after that. Too bad the AHL option is not there as it would be the best option from a development standpoint.

Since his return from WJC he has played 11 games. Here's the stat line

Goals - 12 (1.09 G/Gm)
Assists - 13 (1.18 A/Gm)
Points - 25 (2.27 P/Gm)

 

[old kummelweck]

He may be in a Sam Reinhart situation. Dominate in the WHL, or make the jump to the next best league for him (NHL).

 

[joshjull]

co-zens with 3+1 tonight and 9(!) SOG

 

[Chainshot]

He may be in a Sam Reinhart situation. Dominate in the WHL, or make the jump to the next best league for him (NHL).

He has two advantages over Sam at the same point though - his skating is a weapon not something that needs work and he would be coming to a team that has an established star center and some established scoring wingers who would be bearing the brunt of responsibility and focus.

 

[dkollidas]

Obi-Cozens-Kanobi...

you’re our only hope!

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

I like the idea of slotting him in at 2RW for 9 games next season and maybe giving him some reps up the middle later in the year if all goes well

 

[BananaSquad]

I like the idea of slotting him in at 2RW for 9 games next season and maybe giving him some reps up the middle later in the year if all goes well

Horrible idea. Center or bust, stop with this wing bs.