Sam Reinhart peaked at 65 points in Buffalo, and that was the only time he had more than 50 points (albeit he was at 50 when covid shut the world down). Sure Cozens doesn't come close to Eichel but to say Cozens is nothing like what Reinhart was is just silly.
The problem with Buffalo is the losers mentality. The only player on that roster with a cup ring is Aube-Kubel. And the only other guys who have been to the finals are Tuch (went as a rookie) and McLeod (there last year). The Swords need someone who knows what it takes to win and is driven to do it again, or at the very least an energy guy. Maybe it's as simple as someone like Scott Laughton. Or if it's more of a free agent target, someone like Yanni Gourde would be a great target.
It was pretty apparent to those that watched Reinhart night in and night out there was quite a bit more offensive potential for him outside of Buffalo. As others have said his hockey IQ is worlds better than Cozens and he frequently puts himself in the areas that goals are scored which Cozens does not. One fluke season doesn't put Cozens in the same ballpark as Sam Reinhart. I do agree about the losers mentality and we could absolutely use more vets in here that play the game the right way. Gourde would be a savvy pickup, Laughton not so much.
Duck fans have talked about a
Mctavish for cozens swap
Both guys seem like they could use a change of scenery.
As a Sabres fan I'd be a bit underwhelmed by that return and I dont even really care for Cozens all that much.
Idk why people call it a massive mistake trading Eichel and ROR when Eichel requested a trade even before his back injury and ROR used his words and attitude to force his way out.
Cozens is playing his way off team ..
There wasn't much we could do about the Eichel situation (outside of actually building a better team around him), so I don't really blame them for how they handled that debacle. As for O'Reilly I thought that was really handled poorly by the team. The words and attitude aspect was completely overblown. The guy gave an honest answer in a locker room clean out interview after a terrible season and the media dragged him through the mud and the team piled on top. Most of what I saw from him in his time here was overwhelmingly good. He rarely mailed it in and was a great role model for some of the younger guys on the team. Reinhart specifically mentioned him as a guy who taught him how to put the work in to improve his game.
Spitballing… Carlo, Zacha, Frederic for Cozens, Kulich, Clifton/Joker
Buffalo could absolutely use Carlo he'd be a great target. I doubt they are ready to move a guy like Kulich though and certainly not for guys that are more depth type of pieces.
Hes exactly why teams should be weary of giving guys with less than 150 games played long term, big money contracts. Sure he looked like he was on the rise at the time, but his 68 point season is looking like a fluke.
Absolutely, but Buffalo has gotten into the habit of jumping the gun on these types of deals because they've botched these negotiations in the past by using bridge deals to slowplay long-term contracts for players and it's blown up in their faces. Reinhart being the 1st name that comes to mind. I think It's largely out of fear of losing the player as soon as they start to get some element of control over where they can play.
