Player Discussion Dylan Cozens, C/RW, 2019 7th overall Part 2

[Fjordsen]

Add a top 6 C and a good player/vet on the other wing and Cozens could very well be fine.

 

[Chainshot]

Second time - this isn't the roster thread, or the Adams thread for those who must constantly go down that path. If y'all would put your replies in the appropriate places, that would be more helpful than it getting whacked for being so far off topic.

Thanks.

 

[HaNotsri]

Looking better again, maybe the brain fog has finally lifted? I guess we'll se when we face a good team.

Not a top 6 center yet but I see him as a Tuch-level of player long term.

 

[DeletedUser539]

Looking better again, maybe the brain fog has finally lifted? I guess we'll se when we face a good team.

Not a top 6 center yet but I see him as a Tuch-level of player long term.

He is good for sure but tuch has blossomed once he was traded over here always had solid production but really blew up

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Fjordsen]

So it was about the skates.

 

[Jim Bob]

So it was about the skates.

He wouldn't be the first guy to change skates or his sticks or another piece of equipment and his play take off afterward.

 

[Fjordsen]

He wouldn't be the first guy to change skates or his sticks or another piece of equipment and his play take off afterward.

Let's talk about this in early February.

 

[Fezzy126]

Except that Cozens isn't a center.

Since the end of the 13-game losing streak, Cozens' metrics have been great, all while playing center:

He's been elite over the past month as well. The individual scoring isn't quite where it needs to be, but he's been good at 5v5 - tied for 60th in the league over that span. The slow start was a thing, but he's starting to figure his game out and been very good for a while now. I mentioned this earlier in the year - I think deploying him with some vets instead of letting him flounder with with a bunch of kids has really helped him a great deal.

I think it's time to pivot from "we need a better player" to "what needs to change with his offseason program/preparation".

Add Quinn to that list as well.

Not quite there, but not far off. You certainly risk tanking his return the longer you wait.

I was "there" before we drafted him, and barring several small glimpses of greatness, nothing since has deterred me. He has Karlsson-like on-ice impacts, but his d-zone play and engagement level is horrific, and likely always will be.

However, I don't think his value will ever "tank". Hell, in the last game all I can remember is him abandoning the front of the net and leaving a wide open Duck in the slot THREE times in a row in the last two minutes of a 1-goal game. But he was solely responsible for our first goal with his hard work in the O-zone along with his vision and passing. And at the end of the day, his metrics from the game were elite:

I'd bet that there would be a long list of teams that would jump at the chance to maximize his strengths while mitigating his weaknesses with the right partner and/or deployment.

 

[Fezzy126]

Just wanted to take a moment to commend you for diving into those numbers for Cozens. That is some encouraging stuff for sure.

I'll add this (despite the fact I usually don't like their takes):



It seems that Cozens is really starting to concentrate on playing the game the right way. He's simplified things; going north/south, Playing with physicality, getting shots on net, improving at the dot. It's all the things we thought he would build on from his career year.

Maybe he's finally unf***ed himself from the dreams of dangling his way to 40 goals.

 

[Chainshot]

Not removing those from the roster thread, just breaking out copies here for later comment and perhaps speak to him actually moving in the right direction. Also because the roster thread moves about 20 posts on an off day.