Rumor: LeBrun: Flames Remain Interested in Cozens

[Beerz]

My gut tells me Cozens is absolutely the next Eichel, Reinhart, O’Reilly if Buffalo quits on him this early. That’s not a good place for young guys to develop right now. Cozens has always been lauded for a work ethic but with minimal structure and guidance, he’s just a young kid spinning his wheels. He’s about to turn 24. Still plenty of time and as others have pointed out, already has a 30 goal, 68 point aeason under his belt. All the tools are there, and so is the toolbox. He needs an environment where the tools are organized for optimization. If Buffalo gives up on him it will be a mistake. They need to insulate the chosen 6ish under 25 players they want to keep with actual quality veterans and leaders.

I question the toolbox.. for Center position anyways.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Fits what you said you needed *kanye shrug*. Isn't sexy but sabres would be SIGNIFICANTLY better.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Fits what you said you needed *kanye shrug*. Isn't sexy but sabres would be SIGNIFICANTLY better.

It absolutely does not. Ristolainen is dead to Buffalo. Cates—a guy who ostensibly has only ever played LW btw—isn’t an upgrade on Cozens. The 3 vets you listed are exactly the type of empty calorie roster filler we don’t need.

 

[Mattilaus]

Ah crap. Well...bring on the absolute trash offers boys.

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

Cozens hasn't been the same since his fight with Hathaway



This was early in the season, where he had 7 points in the first 10 games after scoring 31 goals and 68 points the season prior.

75 points in 91 games to that fight vs 73 points in 132 games after. It seemed like the fight inside him was destroyed because he was the only one willing to get dirty and stick up for the team.

Get him out of there and I think he'll become a fan favourite for his new team in time.

 

[Chainshot]

Ah crap. Well...bring on the absolute trash offers boys.

I mean, there should be a "continue" in there rather than just a "bring".

 

[FlyguyOX]

It absolutely does not. Ristolainen is dead to Buffalo. Cates—a guy who ostensibly has only ever played LW btw—isn’t an upgrade on Cozens. The 3 vets you listed are exactly the type of empty calorie roster filler we don’t need.

Ok, I'm just chalking your reply up to the fact you know nothing about the flyers. Which, that's fine. Understandable.

Cozens hasn't been the same since his fight with Hathaway



This was early in the season, where he had 7 points in the first 10 games after scoring 31 goals and 68 points the season prior.

75 points in 91 games to that fight vs 73 points in 132 games after. It seemed like the fight inside him was destroyed because he was the only one willing to get dirty and stick up for the team.

Get him out of there and I think he'll become a fan favourite for his new team in time.

lol OOF yeah that spanking was brutal.

 

[Volica]

- Top 4 *defensive* RHD (we don’t need anymore puck-movers and we have 0 space for a D that needs PP time to be effective)

- A better center than Dylan Cozens

- Like 3 more Jason Zuckers (veterans who are still quality, effective players, not just wastes of space who have been in the league for 10-15 years)

It's sad as a Flames fan to see that we have pieces that would make other teams a lot better, and would help us really do our retool/rebuild properly and yet our contract status (NMC,NTC) as well as our front office's unwillingness to move on from some of their older guys.

We have three guys: Coleman, Andersson and Kadri who would fit Buffalo like a glove in terms of veterans who are still really good hockey players and have those leadership qualities.

 

[McFlyingV]

Just don't really see any reason for Buffalo to move Cozens. You drafted him, you committed to him long term, and his value is in the dumpster. You're better off hoping he turns it around at this point.

 

[Fjordy]

It's sad as a Flames fan to see that we have pieces that would make other teams a lot better, and would help us really do our retool/rebuild properly and yet our contract status (NMC,NTC) as well as our front office's unwillingness to move on from some of their older guys.

We have three guys: Coleman, Andersson and Kadri who would fit Buffalo like a glove in terms of veterans who are still really good hockey players and have those leadership qualities.

I would take all three.

 

[RedHawkDown]

I don't really get what Buffalo fans are saying. Sure, they don't have to trade him, and that's probably the right thing to do. But why would any team give up a player better than Cozens ("top 6 centre better than Cozens") for Cozens? It makes literally no sense.

When players like this are traded, unless Cozens is going as part of a package for a much better player, the team trading the key player (i.e Buffalo) usually loses the deal.
See: every previous Buffalo trade, JT Miller, Mark Stone, Jake Guentzel, Alex DeBrincat, Bo Horvat, Matthew Tkachuk, etc..

 

[Zman5778]

I would take all three.

of course we would. But Kadri has an NTC....and there's zero chance he waives unless he truly despises Toronto. Andersson is rumored to not be available at all. Same with Weegar (who would also fit like a glove here).

So that leaves Coleman as realistic.......but what else does Calgary attach that we'd be interested in?

 

[Zman5778]

I don't really get what Buffalo fans are saying. Sure, they don't have to trade him, and that's probably the right thing to do. But why would any team give up a player better than Cozens ("top 6 centre better than Cozens") for Cozens? It makes literally no sense.

When players like this are traded, unless Cozens is going as part of a package for a much better player

You answered your own question. The ideal scenario is that we deal Cozens as part of a package for either a legit top 6 C or a legit defensive top 4 RHD. That's why Cozens plus Byram for EP40 was out there so much/often. That's the ideal scenario for Buffalo.

I have zero clue where we get something like that.....but that's the idea.

 

[Volica]

of course we would. But Kadri has an NTC....and there's zero chance he waives unless he truly despises Toronto. Andersson is rumored to not be available at all. Same with Weegar (who would also fit like a glove here).

So that leaves Coleman as realistic.......but what else does Calgary attach that we'd be interested in?

Unfortunately Coleman also has a 10 team approval list.
With the way that guy is wired, I can't see the 5th worst team in the league this year piquing his fancy.

 

[Fjordy]

of course we would. But Kadri has an NTC....and there's zero chance he waives unless he truly despises Toronto. Andersson is rumored to not be available at all. Same with Weegar (who would also fit like a glove here).

So that leaves Coleman as realistic.......but what else does Calgary attach that we'd be interested in?

Well, this is a Calgary fan suggestion. Isn't Kadri from Ontario and there have been some rumors. Andersson has six teams, yeah, Buffalo is probably in there. I like Coleman, he's a good player and ticks all the boxes for us. I think Calgary has other interesting pieces, but I don't know how available they will be. Although I like Sharangovich.

 

[RedHawkDown]

You answered your own question. The ideal scenario is that we deal Cozens as part of a package for either a legit top 6 C or a legit defensive top 4 RHD. That's why Cozens plus Byram for EP40 was out there so much/often. That's the ideal scenario for Buffalo.

I have zero clue where we get something like that.....but that's the idea.

I get that. But it makes little sense to be lashing out at other teams fans when they're offering what are reasonable offers for a player who is signed to a long-term 7M contract that he is currently not living up to. There's some risk for the team trading for him, too.

The teams listed by Weekes - Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Detroit - have no players they could possibly give up for Cozens in a larger package. The only thing I could see, maybe, is a deal around Cozens+Byram+ for Marner if the Leafs don't want to re-sign him? But that seems very unlikely. Other than that, literally none of these teams have a good defensive top 4 RHD that they would want to trade. Montreal isn't giving up any of their young players for a downgrade, and Detroit isn't giving you Larkin, who is our only top 6 C.

Just seems like a weird hill to die on. If Cozens ends up being traded, it almost certainly won't be for the ideal situation you are hoping for.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

I get that. But it makes little sense to be lashing out at other teams fans when they're offering what are reasonable offers for a player who is signed to a long-term 7M contract that he is currently not living up to. There's some risk for the team trading for him, too.

The teams listed by Weekes - Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Detroit - have no players they could possibly give up for Cozens in a larger package. The only thing I could see, maybe, is a deal around Cozens+Byram+ for Marner if the Leafs don't want to re-sign him? But that seems very unlikely. Other than that, literally none of these teams have a good defensive top 4 RHD that they would want to trade. Montreal isn't giving up any of their young players for a downgrade, and Detroit isn't giving you Larkin, who is our only top 6 C.

Just seems like a weird hill to die on. If Cozens ends up being traded, it almost certainly won't be for the ideal situation you are hoping for.

Key words here “if he gets traded”
If he gets traded, it’s part of a package for a better player and more than likely in the off season

 

[RedHawkDown]

Key words here “if he gets traded”
If he gets traded, it’s part of a package for a better player and more than likely in the off season

Sure, that's a fair way to look at it. Though that's not really what has happened for the last 10+ guys that had rumors around them like this that came to fruition.

Keep in mind any team that has a better player to trade also wants sure assets, not a player with some question marks like Cozens.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

How about no. In all seriousness I don’t see how the Flames can get him given Conroy has said he’s not moving Weegar or Andersson

Probably more of an offseason move. They are in playoff contention so trading Weegar (unlikely to move at all) or Andersson while all our RD prospects are still developing is counterproductive.

If July 1st comes along and Andersson prices himself too high for us and Buffalo drafts a top line center, I could see something around those 2 happening. Also a trade being post July 1st would allow any interested teams to actually negotiate an extension with Andersson

 

[Figgy44]

Probably more of an offseason move. They are in playoff contention so trading Weegar (unlikely to move at all) or Andersson while all our RD prospects are still developing is counterproductive.

If July 1st comes along and Andersson prices himself too high for us and Buffalo drafts a top line center, I could see something around those 2 happening. Also a trade being post July 1st would allow any interested teams to actually negotiate an extension with Andersson

I don't even know if Buffalo has to draft that C. I think if one of their C prospects suddenly rockets out of the gate (ie: call up due to injury and just takes off), it's basically the same concept of what you're saying (ie: Rosen, Helenius).

Flames probably interested in Cozens in a young Monahan/Lindholm shared C/W type of line (ie: Cozens/Frost type of idea). But Buffalo should be doing that themselves vs shipping Cozens out without trying it first.

The most damning part of the whole thing is Adams not really saying enough that Cozens isn't available. Unlike Conroy who has said specific players being inquired about are not available.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I wonder what Kevin Adams has done as Sabres GM for their fans to think he gets returns they are saying in this thread

 

[Fjordy]

I wonder what Kevin Adams has done as Sabres GM for their fans to think he gets returns they are saying in this thread

I actually hate Adams, but he got decent returns on his trades, he just doesn't understand how to build a team properly and didn't do enough to improve the team before each season.

 

[Lunatik]

I think Calgary would give Dach a really long look.
That said, I don't think Montreal would want to trade him for likely what Calgary's going to offer. They're only a couple seasons removed from paying a top 15 pick for him, and Calgary won't be touching a first rounder for his services.

I think it will depend if Montreal thinks they will be players for FAs this summer, freeing up an extra 3.36m certainly can't hurt.

 

[Mattilaus]

I get that. But it makes little sense to be lashing out at other teams fans when they're offering what are reasonable offers for a player who is signed to a long-term 7M contract that he is currently not living up to. There's some risk for the team trading for him, too.

The teams listed by Weekes - Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Detroit - have no players they could possibly give up for Cozens in a larger package. The only thing I could see, maybe, is a deal around Cozens+Byram+ for Marner if the Leafs don't want to re-sign him? But that seems very unlikely. Other than that, literally none of these teams have a good defensive top 4 RHD that they would want to trade. Montreal isn't giving up any of their young players for a downgrade, and Detroit isn't giving you Larkin, who is our only top 6 C.

Just seems like a weird hill to die on. If Cozens ends up being traded, it almost certainly won't be for the ideal situation you are hoping for.

It deserves lashing out when nobody is even trying to fulfill any of Buffalo's needs in a trade. Go back and read the tweets about Cozens. They all say team x, y, and z are showing interest. They don't say Buffalo is shopping Cozens.

Any teams can have interest regardless of whether they have the pieces to make the deal or not. Do you really think Buffalo is the one calling Toronto and saying "hey, do you want Cozens for spare parts?"

 

[StrompTroller]

Fits what you said you needed *kanye shrug*. Isn't sexy but sabres would be SIGNIFICANTLY better.

that is a low bar to wanna limbo....