sabrebuild
Registered User
There is a lot of definitive opinions on here about a 19 year old and what his development will look like in 9 months.
Maybe argue this one out at training camp.
Maybe argue this one out at training camp.
Arguing the position he should play, and with the way things have gone around here, him making the team at Wing isn’t that great unless we get a massive upgrade at Center.There is a lot of definitive opinions on here about a 19 year old and what his development will look like in 9 months.
Maybe argue this one out at training camp.
If he comes in, is put on the wing and is a good effective NHL player why is that a bad thing. Our forward depth is as deep as the kiddie pool at Munchkinland, having someone who is actually good in the lineup instead of say Jimmy Vesey would be a big positive.Arguing the position he should play, and with the way things have gone around here, him making the team at Wing isn’t that great unless we get a massive upgrade at Center.
I’m worried about his actual development at Center. If he’s not ready to play Center in the NHL he goes back to the WHL for me. Arizona is kicking themselves right now not sending Hayton back to the O.If he comes in, is put on the wing and is a good effective NHL player why is that a bad thing. Our forward depth is as deep as the kiddie pool at Munchkinland, having someone who is actually good in the lineup instead of say Jimmy Vesey would be a big positive.
Tell that to the Canadian National World Junior Coach... who sure as hell knows a lot more about hockey than any of us...Playing him at wing is a failed strategy to. Center or WHL
HaytonTell that to the Canadian National World Junior Coach... who sure as hell knows a lot more about hockey than any of us...
Arguing the position he should play, and with the way things have gone around here, him making the team at Wing isn’t that great unless we get a massive upgrade at Center.
He is showing all the sines of being our long term 2C, but will NOT be ready for that role next year. I wish he could go to Rochester but he can't. I would definitely give him a few games at the start of next year to show him what is coming. Then I send him back to juniors a to play top center minutes in all situations and let him dominate. If he can get near that 2 ppg mark that would bode very well when you look at other top player development trajectories. Then he plays a year in Rochester at the #1 C position. At that point he will be physically way more mature, and have grown alot through the repetition of top minutes in the 1C spot. Bring him to the NHL and see what he can handle in the 3C role until he proves he can handle more. By that progress he likely takes the 2C role 3-4 years from now. So getting a true top six center for the team with 3-5 years of term seems the best way to help the current Sabres and not be tempted to drive Cozens up the ladder to fast.
Team Canada used Reinhart at center and look where he plays now.Team Canada used him on wing on the top line.
If the Sabres did not have big holes in the lineup and were competing for a playoff spot every year, then no one is talking about trying to rush him to the NHL as a 19 year old. It is only because we have those holes and are desperate for hope that we fantasize about prospects we drafted a year or two ago impacting the big club so quickly. Our player development process should have nothing to do with how the big club is playing or the holes it has in it. Thinking like that is one part of why we have been bottom feeding for so long. They should be slow cooking and going through a process where prospects have to prove it, where they have to fight for and earn their role and ice time. Once drafted, could care less about what round they went in. Development and performance should dictate.He’s doing that right now leading the WHL in both goals and points per game.
He’s also the most physically prepared of our prospects since Eichel. He’s certainly far more physically prepared for the NHL than Sam or Mitts were at similar ages. Whether he’s mentally ready or if the team feels its the right thing for him is something we won’t know until camp.
You're development plan is very conservative for a 7th overall pick performing like he is in his D+1 season. Back to WHL then a full year in AHL. I’d be very surprised and frankly disappointed if Cozens ends up in the AHL like that.
Then send him back to the dub if he can’t hang at 2RW.
having him play scrub minutes as a 3C is the same failed strategy as what they did to Mitts.
If the Sabres did not have big holes in the lineup and were competing for a playoff spot every year, then no one is talking about trying to rush him to the NHL as a 19 year old. It is only because we have those holes and are desperate for hope that we fantasize about prospects we drafted a year or two ago impacting the big club so quickly. Our player development process should have nothing to do with how the big club is playing or the holes it has in it. Thinking like that is one part of why we have been bottom feeding for so long. They should be slow cooking and going through a process where prospects have to prove it, where they have to fight for and earn their role and ice time. Once drafted, could care less about what round they went in. Development and performance should dictate.
As far as future planning, I try to assume what is normal or typical, instead of trying fit prospects into an atypical path based on thoughts about why they are somehow better than everyone else that came before them.
Being physically more developed says nothing about being mentally more developed as a 19 year old. These are not men yet. Not even close.
There wasn't really anything wrong with Mitts' usage, other than he shouldn't have been getting NHL minutes at all. He was being sheltered in limited ES ice time with high offensive zone starts + some PP minutes. That's perfectly normal---even outright smart---use of a young player who's still learning the ropes. Mitts just wasn't ready to be an NHL player in any capacity.
He’s doing that right now leading the WHL in both goals and points per game.
He’s also the most physically prepared of our prospects since Eichel. He’s certainly far more physically prepared for the NHL than Sam or Mitts were at similar ages. Whether he’s mentally ready or if the team feels its the right thing for him is something we won’t know until camp.
You're development plan is very conservative for a 7th overall pick performing like he is in his D+1 season. Back to WHL then a full year in AHL. I’d be very surprised and frankly disappointed if Cozens ends up in the AHL like that.
My apologies if it appeared I was lashing out at you our putting words in your mouth. That was not my intent. I quoted your post to respond to you because we were having a conversation, more than to respond to something in particular in it. Some more thoughts.You seem to be lashing out at several opinions, none of which are mine.
There is nothing typical about your development approach.
One where a player who just dominated his junior league, gets sent back to juniors in his D+2 season to dominate again. You suggest he works towards being a 2pts per game player. Nothing about those things are unusual. Its what you suggest next that is. Sending him to the AHL for an entire year to develop, like we did with Olofsson.
A player who just dominated juniors for two straight years like that rarely gets sent to the AHL the next year, let alone for an entire season to work on his game. Which is why I said I would be disappointed if he was on that AHL path.
Again, as I stated in a previous past... We’ll found out in camp if the coaches feel Cozens is mentally ready and frankly emotionally mature enough to play in the NHL.
But physical readiness is one of the factors considered by a staff when determining if a player is ready. Cozens having that already on his side is without question a plus for him
What is this, some sort of new math?13 points in 5 games since coming back (9 goals, 5 assists).
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 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 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.