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

[joshjull]

we all know this team will use him in a bottom 6 checking role (if he is in the bottom 6), and play with players who cannot score, which is NOT ideal player usage.

Let's develop players into what they are supposed to be for once, instead of rushing them into a lessor role that they are not suited for.

We're already badly misusing Dahlin. Not again with Cozens. I will gladly wait a year or two to get this one right

There is nothing to back the claim he will be used in a defensive role.

I can’t believe this needs to be said but......... Centering an offensively skewed bottom 6 line is right up there with playing wing as a way to ease a young center into the NHL.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

Starting to believe he will be ready for a second line role next October

 

[joshjull]

yea I think the key is good teams don’t count on those players making an impact. There needs to be plans to insulate him if necessary, and plans if he needs to go back to the WHL mid season

Thats not really true in a cap world. If anything needing to have young players on ELCs ready to contribute is more imperative than ever. Good team or bad.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Thats not really true in a cap world. If anything needing to have young players on ELCs ready to contribute is more imperative than ever. Good team or bad.

contribute and being dependent on a ELC player to slot into to a critical role aren't really the same thing though.

 

[joshjull]

contribute and being dependent on a ELC player to slot into to a critical role aren't really the same thing though.

I think you’re trying way too hard to play to overstate things by using phrases like “critical role” and “dependent on”.


Cozens can probably be counted on to contribute to the forwards on the same level Joker did with the defense. Which would be a big help while also not being a huge ask. Something that happens around the league with good and bad teams filling out their rosters. Teams depend on guys on ELCs to fill various spots.

Its not about asking him to be the 2C, which would be ridiculous. He doesn’t need to be that to contribute.

 

[joshjull]

Plan around him not being ready, and be surprised/waive/trade someone else when he does.

No more half-measures. No more Mittelstadting.

I get being gun shy because of how things played out with Mitts. But there really isn't anything in common between the situations. Cozens is near where Sam was in terms of being NHL ready in his D+1 season.

But waiting for his first 9 games before deciding wouldn’t be a bad idea.

 

[Sabre the Win]

we all know this team will use him in a bottom 6 checking role (if he is in the bottom 6), and play with players who cannot score, which is NOT ideal player usage.

Let's develop players into what they are supposed to be for once, instead of rushing them into a lessor role that they are not suited for.

We're already badly misusing Dahlin. Not again with Cozens. I will gladly wait a year or two to get this one right

Rushing players into a lesser role?

This is the first time I have ever heard this... ever.

I also dont understand how Dahlin is being stunted? He looks good to me in his 2nd season.

 

[dortt]

Rushing players into a lesser role?

This is the first time I have ever heard this... ever.

I also dont understand how Dahlin is being stunted? He looks good to me in his 2nd season.

Dahlin would be MUCH more effective if he were allowed to rush the puck

 

[Bendium]

what is wrong with him on the wing? Worked well for Reinhart, and we need a second line wing (and center)

Reinhart is a terrible example because he never made it back to center...so no thanks. Have there been some centers go to wing first and then center later? Sure, there are a few, but there are more that just come in and play center....because they are centers and have worked and practiced to become good at the skills that you need to be a center. The guy has center written all over him, so there is no need to push him up the roster on the wing. Not all bottom six lines in the NHL are bad defensive checking lines. The Sabres have good potential for a protected offensive third line next year. On the left you will have Olofsson, Skinner and then Johansson. So a solid two way or offensive right wing could complete a third line that would get favorable matchups at home and high ozone starts on the road.

Johansson - Cozens - Mitts/Thompson/Kahun

 

[Bendium]

Dahlin would be MUCH more effective if he were allowed to rush the puck

That won't make him better defensively, and requires a very good defensive defensemen to pair him with. Some people have mentioned him becoming like Karlsson, but one thing about Karlsson is he is MUCH quicker than Dahlin, so when he takes risks and attacks the ozone and net, he has the speed to get back quickly. Dahlin does not have that. Also, for as much as Karlsson produces offense, he is still a career -45. You kind of have to score more than your opponent to win. I think he will be best developed as a complete top pairing defenseman that can handle both ends.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I think you’re trying way too hard to play to overstate things by using phrases like “critical role” and “dependent on”.


Cozens can probably be counted on to contribute to the forwards on the same level Joker did with the defense. Which would be a big help while also not being a huge ask. Something that happens around the league with good and bad teams filling out their rosters. Teams depend on guys on ELCs to fill various spots.

Its not about asking him to be the 2C, which would be ridiculous. He doesn’t need to be that to contribute.

Not sure what you’re getting at, I was using those phrases because that was the discussion. it was just a conversation about him being a 2c next year, and I said if it happens that would be great, but good teams don’t count on that (they don’t). I’m aware that him being up next year and contributing would be a reasonable plan.

And I know that it would be ridiculous to count on him being a 2c, but this team has counted on rookies filling critical roles the last few years.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Not sure what you’re getting at, I was using those phrases because that was the discussion. it was just a conversation about him being a 2c next year, and I said if it happens that would be great, but good teams don’t count on that (they don’t). I’m aware that him being up next year and contributing would be a reasonable plan.

And I know that it would be ridiculous to count on him being a 2c, but this team has counted on rookies filling critical roles the last few years.

Hopefully they learned something from the Mittelstadt debacle and don't go into next season with Cozens penned in at 2C and 0 viable alternatives if that doesn't work out. They need to get at least 1 middle 6 C in the off-season to help shelter him/give us some depth. 2 if Larsson walks.

With how he's played this season, I feel like the odds favor Cozens being ready to step in and contribute next season. I just hope the plan is for him start in a sheltered secondary scoring role.

 

[joshjull]

Not sure what you’re getting at, I was using those phrases because that was the discussion. it was just a conversation about him being a 2c next year, and I said if it happens that would be great, but good teams don’t count on that (they don’t). I’m aware that him being up next year and contributing would be a reasonable plan.

And I know that it would be ridiculous to count on him being a 2c, but this team has counted on rookies filling critical roles the last few years.

My bad then. I was under the impression you were talking about him simply being here.

 

[jc17]

Plan around him not being ready, and be surprised/waive/trade someone else when he does.

No more half-measures. No more Mittelstadting.

Mitts' most common teammates were Sheary, Okposo and Tage. No prospect beyond maybe McDavid is ready to play with those guys year 1. Even if Cozens himself looks good, if he's going to ride on a line with Mojo and Vesey its probably not worth it. Even Olofsson and fill-in-the-blank RW. If Cozens isnt insulated with good players, I dont think his skill as a rookie will overcome it

 

[Bendium]

Mitts' most common teammates were Sheary, Okposo and Tage. No prospect beyond maybe McDavid is ready to play with those guys year 1. Even if Cozens himself looks good, if he's going to ride on a line with Mojo and Vesey its probably not worth it

The problem with Mitt's play was......Mitt's play, not his linemates. Better linemates would not have made Mitt's play harder, cover his responsibilities, do better than 40-45% faceoffs, etc.

 

[Dirty Dog]

My bad then. I was under the impression you were talking about him simply being here.

ha, I’m sure I wasn’t clear! I realized there was a disconnect. I know we have to see where Cozens is next year, but it seems more and more likely that this kid is going to carve out a role on the team

 

[Fezzy126]

Mitts' most common teammates were Sheary, Okposo and Tage. No prospect beyond maybe McDavid is ready to play with those guys year 1. Even if Cozens himself looks good, if he's going to ride on a line with Mojo and Vesey its probably not worth it. Even Olofsson and fill-in-the-blank RW. If Cozens isnt insulated with good players, I dont think his skill as a rookie will overcome it

Robert Thomas was brought up for his D+2 season and spent most of his time with Bozak & Maroon. I wouldn't be opposed to bottom 6 line constructed of Mojo/Kahun-Cozens-Simmonds (even though there are probably many that want nothing to do with Simmonds moving forward).

If the kid stays up with us next year, surrounding him with a vet or 2, along with someone that can play a heavier game is pretty high up in my book to further his development.

 

[joshjull]

Hopefully they learned something from the Mittelstadt debacle and don't go into next season with Cozens penned in at 2C and 0 viable alternatives if that doesn't work out. They need to get at least 1 middle 6 C in the off-season to help shelter him/give us some depth. 2 if Larsson walks.

With how he's played this season, I feel like the odds favor Cozens being ready to step in and contribute next season. I just hope the plan is for him start in a sheltered secondary scoring role.

Mitts wasn’t asked to be the 2C. He was asked to play the same role you’re suggesting for Cozens. The lesson from the Mitts situation is don’t put a player in the NHL who isn’t ready yet and needs more development.

MItts NHLe in both his draft year and D+1 year was in the mid 20s. Thats not someone who should have been considered NHL ready. In contrast Cozens has gone from 30 in his draft year to 42 in his D+1 season with his NHLe.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Mitts wasn’t asked to be the 2C. He was asked to play the same role you’re suggesting for Cozens. The lesson from the Mitts situation is don’t put a player in the NHL who isn’t ready yet and needs more development.

I know what role Mitts ended up playing. I think it's pretty clear from how that roster was assembled that they were expecting him to take the reigns as a legit #2 center, though. The fact that he didn't meant we were rolling Eichel, Larsson, and sub-replacement level filler down the middle. All I'm saying is I hope there's a plan to provide actual insulation for Cozens, instead of the Eichel and a prayer plan we went with for Mitts.

 

[joshjull]

I know what role Mitts ended up playing. I think it's pretty clear from how that roster was assembled that they were expecting him to take the reigns as a legit #2 center, though. The fact that he didn't meant we were rolling Eichel, Larsson, and sub-replacement level filler down the middle. All I'm saying is I hope there's a plan to provide actual insulation for Cozens, instead of the Eichel and a prayer plan we went with for Mitts.

No Mitts wasn’t being asked to play 2C.

The 2C in Phil’s system had a very defensively skewed usage. Ridiculous so, one could argue. The guy they wanted to fill that role was Berglund. But he struggled badly early on in it which led to Sobotka replacing him. Mitts was never expected to play such a role. He was asked to play the same role you put forth for Cozens.

 

[jd1970]

Rushing prospects, especially at center hasn't worked for the Sabres in forever, if ever, at all.
So, yeah, let's try it again.

Eichel?

 

[sufferer]

Eichel?

You mean the guy we threw two seasons away for? He's the exception.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Eichel?

Wasn't rushed. He was a top 6 NHL center the day we selected him in the draft.
It's about when the prospect is ready, not how old they are.

 

[joshjull]

 

[joshjull]