Player Discussion Dylan Cozens

[NyQuil]

The only other place I've seen Cozens play at the senior level is at the World Championships.

He's got 24 points in 20 games including a whopping 16 goals.

Obviously we don't have much of a sample away from Buffalo but there is some reason for optimism IMO in a new setting.

 

[PlayOn]

We're not Habs fans and Cozens ain't Laine. Those are extreme examples that have no comparables lol

I'm still looking at Cozens being a downgrade from Norris, but it enabled us to add Zetterlund as well. My hope is that Cozens brings a different style that is a better fit for what we need, and maybe he'll thrive in a differently structured system with less pressure being a go to guy to get a perpetually floundering team over a hump they've been stuck on over a decade.

And who knows, maybe playoff push pressure is something that will help him. He has thrived in international tournaments.

One thing I will say is that even though Detroit was playing like they had everything to lose last night - it was a critical game for them - it was still uncharacteristic for Ottawa to get caved in so much against an average team. Tough to say but perhaps if Norris was still here, that wouldn't have been the case?

Norris doesn’t really drive possession though. He’s great defending when the other team has the puck because he’s so smart, a great skater and has a good stick but he’s not really gonna be the guy that stops you from being hemmed in so much as he’ll give you a big clear when you need it.

I also thought Batherson was the weak link on that line anyway last night… not to pile on him, but he continues to struggle. So unless it keeps occurring I wouldn’t read too much into one game.

 

[SlapJack]

Norris doesn’t really drive possession though. He’s great defending when the other team has the puck because he’s so smart, a great skater and has a good stick but he’s not really gonna be the guy that stops you from being hemmed in so much as he’ll give you a big clear when you need it.

I also thought Batherson was the weak link on that line anyway last night… not to pile on him, but he continues to struggle. So unless it keeps occurring I wouldn’t read too much into one game.

It's not so much the driving possession part I was thinking of, more about that defensive awareness and intelligence to be in a better position to limit rushes, or go to where you need to be when things get hairy.

Detroit played like it was a game 7 though, likely didn't matter much in the big picture

 

[Yak]

Certainly glad he got off to a good start in his first games. It's always nice when they have some instant success and it takes a little pressure off of them. It was nice to see him out there, hitting everything that moved and getting some points and some instant confidence. I am sure it will go a long way and keep him energized during our playoff chase.