Confirmed Trade: [OTT/BUF] Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and 2026 2nd round pick for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker

[Doug Prishpreed]

Ottawa gave up all of that and they didn't go for Jack Quinn? So weird. Why wouldn't they want the Ottawa born lad?

Because he's literally the worst forward in the league rn. Have you watched Quinn this year? Absolutely brutal on a nightly basis.

 

[Vergil]

Because he's literally the worst forward in the league rn. Have you watched Quinn this year? Absolutely brutal on a nightly basis.

I haven't watched him this year, no. But a change of scenery will probably help.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

i don't buy that Norris doesn't drive play, he is great at forcing turnovers and a great skater, who won't do anything fancy but can reliably carry the puck and even more important is that he lets his wingers play more free knowing Norris is smart enough to cover for them.


imo he absolutely helps drive play 5 on 5 play in his teams favour. maybe not directly but it still counts.

 

[Satanphonehome]

I wonder how many people are basing their Cozens opinion based mostly on those times he’s worn the red maple leaf.

Because that doesn’t really reflect what he has been in the NHL.

Competitive, good kid, fast, nice tools, but my god is he bad with the puck decisions: ill-advised passes and skating it into dead-end turnovers have been his calling cards. Doesn’t win near as many puck battles as he should and scares no one physically.

On a team noted most for its bad hockey decisions, he is the worst offender.

Don’t begrudge the Senators for blaming the environment in Buffalo and there is a good chance he flourishes in a new environment - particular if he’s asked to be Chris Kreider, not Ryan Kesler.

But don’t kid yourselves: he has been very much part of the problem in Buffalo

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

This is not to trash Cozens. I sincerely hope he turns it around in Ottawa.

But people around the league definitely have a view of him that does not match reality. He's not that tough or gritty, and he isn't a good 2 way player, and probably not a center.

I also disagree with the idea that he is "inconsistent". For anyone who hasn't watched the Sabres the last 2 years, he's actually been pretty consistently bad. There really haven't been many glimpses of good play and nothing I would call a good stretch of games. It's been bad. Just bad.

He was better 3 years ago, so maybe he can get back to that. That's what some Sabres fans like myself have been clinging to, at least. He definitely has the physical tools to be a good player.

 

[IronSac]

I'm just absolutely happy I don't have to watch the play die on Cozens stick again and again. He will disappear for games at a time, and you even wonder if he was in the lineup. That being said, based on the Sabres history, Ottawa will win the cup next year, and Cozens will be the MVP.

 

[Satanphonehome]

The reality of Cozens this year is that he's been outright bad: failing the eye test, failing the analytics test, removed from the top PP, removed from the PK altogether. Every player he plays with sees their numbers go down.

The concept of Cozens is a big, fast, competitive RH centre who can score 30 and match up against anybody.

Given the Sabres history, pretty likely the Sens will be getting the latter.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

This is not to trash Cozens. I sincerely hope he turns it around in Ottawa.

But people around the league definitely have a view of him that does not match reality. He's not that tough or gritty, and he isn't a good 2 way player, and probably not a center.

I also disagree with the idea that he is "inconsistent". For anyone who hasn't watched the Sabres the last 2 years, he's actually been pretty consistently bad. There really haven't been many glimpses of good play and nothing I would call a good stretch of games. It's been bad. Just bad.

He was better 3 years ago, so maybe he can get back to that. That's what some Sabres fans like myself have been clinging to, at least. He definitely has the physical tools to be a good player.

I'm almost 100% certain that Ottawa will put Cozens on RW.

Shane Pinto is going to move up from 3C to 2C. He's been excellent this year.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I'm almost 100% certain that Ottawa will put Cozens on RW.

Shane Pinto is going to move up from 3C to 2C. He's been excellent this year.

That's definitely what I would do and that may help him get back on track. I think C was just too much for him. Just let him skate, hit, and shoot the puck and you may have something.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Ottawa gave up all of that and they didn't go for Jack Quinn? So weird. Why wouldn't they want the Ottawa born lad?

Maybe they did, but Buf wanted a little too much?

 

[paragon]

Buffalo 2nd round pick is almost equivalent to a Dallas 1st.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Cozens has been horrible, but the team and organization is horrible. I don’t have any doubt that he could completely turn it around, and soon, for the Senators.

Seems like a good kid, so I hope he does

 

[Barsky]

i don't buy that Norris doesn't drive play, he is great at forcing turnovers and a great skater, who won't do anything fancy but can reliably carry the puck and even more important is that he lets his wingers play more free knowing Norris is smart enough to cover for them.


imo he absolutely helps drive play 5 on 5 play in his teams favour. maybe not directly but it still counts.

He absolutely doesn't, sorry to say and his 5v5 assist totals bare that out in spades

 

[Do Make Say Think]

That's definitely what I would do and that may help him get back on track. I think C was just too much for him. Just let him skate, hit, and shoot the puck and you may have something.

Plus Cozens looks to have good stats 5v5 and that's where we have struggled a lot this year.

You guys will really like Norris, he's a very easy to like player who is dependable on the ice. Don't worry too much about the shoulder, he's been more physical than he's ever been this year and his shoulder is holding up fine; he's had injuries this year, but nothing related to the shoulder.

He's very good on the PP which it looks like is where you guys need help, he's exactly what you need.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

JBD is very underrated.

No he is not.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I wonder how many people are basing their Cozens opinion on those times he’s worn the red maple leaf.

Competitive, good kid, fast, nice tools, but my god is he bad with the puck decisions: ill-advised passes and skating it into dead-end turnovers have been his calling cards. Doesn’t win near as many puck battles as he should and scares no one physically.

On a team noted most for its bad hockey decisions, he is the worst offender.

Don’t begrudge the Senators for blaming the environment in Buffalo and there is a good chance he flourishes in a new environment - particular if he’s asked to be Chris Kreider, not Ryan Kesler.

But don’t kid yourselves: he has been very much part of the problem in Buffalo

Honestly someone like Chris Kreider is exactly what we need to play with Stutzle.

Someone who can keep up with him, get open, and have good enough hands and shot to finish the multiple opportunities Stutzle creates in the game.

 

[SlapJack]

I have ZERO idea how this will play out. Could be good or bad for both teams. Maybe one and not the other.

My gut reaction was that Ottawa was a lock to make the playoffs this year if Norris stayed healthy and now I don't feel that way anymore.

 

[Ace]

I’ll say something positive about Dylan Cozens

I’ll always appreciate never having to watch him on my team again

I’d have moved him a year ago.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

This is not to trash Cozens. I sincerely hope he turns it around in Ottawa.

But people around the league definitely have a view of him that does not match reality. He's not that tough or gritty, and he isn't a good 2 way player, and probably not a center.

I also disagree with the idea that he is "inconsistent". For anyone who hasn't watched the Sabres the last 2 years, he's actually been pretty consistently bad. There really haven't been many glimpses of good play and nothing I would call a good stretch of games. It's been bad. Just bad.

He was better 3 years ago, so maybe he can get back to that. That's what some Sabres fans like myself have been clinging to, at least. He definitely has the physical tools to be a good player.

So many inaccurate takes about Cozens in this thread, from people who cannot possibly be watching Sabres games regularly.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

"They call me Mr. glass"

- Norris

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

I like it more for the Sens than Buffalo. Both sides taking on risk but I think the Sens got the best player here (and the pick).

I’m not sure where this sens got the best player take is coming from - based on what exactly? Healthier yes but outside 1 good year 3 years ago cozens has done zilch

 

[Some Other Flame]

Like both franchises, this will end up being a lose-lose trade

 

[The Expert]

Whats the point though? Doesnt move the needle for either team.

For one thing if Norris blows his shoulder out again, there goes any hope of a trade at the draft. Makes no sense to wait until then.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

Pinto has greatly outperformed Norris as a 2 way C in similar matchups this year and that probably made Ottawa's front office feel like Norris was expendable. It seems like this move is Ottawa planning on giving the matchup role fully to Pinto and trying to add more skill/playmaking in Cozens.

You're not adding any skill or playmaking at all by adding Cozens. Nor has he been good defensively. Toughness and two way play were supposed to be his game but never materialized.

He's big and fast, works hard and can be good at carrying the puck in good in transition, only to lose the puck once challenged because he doesnt have the hands to dangle. He hasn't shown the aptitude at center except for short stretches. At wing with less responsibility you might have a player.

Change of scenery was needed for both players.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

If Ottawa plays cozens on wing they win this trade and frankly it's not close

If Ottawa plays cozens at center the sabres win this trade and frankly it won't look close

Yeah, it's not close. What Cozens you been watching. The one at the world championships where no one hits or checks. The guy just stood around as Dahlin got punched in the face. And he's not a great shooter.