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

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Exceptionally low hockey IQ is definitely the biggest negative on Cozens. He's not a center, but most Sabres fans saw him as a decent RW. Not a ton of defense from him either, but on the flip side he loves hockey, works hard, plays hard - not a lazy or low work ethic guy by any means.
 
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I know Cozens has his warts, but I really question a lot of Buffalo's fans comments on him in here. He's got terrible hockey IQ, he's not physical, poor work ethic, doesn't have a good shot, loses puck battles, not fast, terrible defensively, etc,.

So what the hell is he good at then? The guy got 68 points and 30 goals one year. Did he do it by accident?
I haven't seen sabres fans say he doesn't have a good shot, terribly defensively and poor work ethic....feels like you are making stuff up.
 
I haven't seen sabres fans say he doesn't have a good shot, terribly defensively and poor work ethic....feels like you are making stuff up.

Sabres fans will definitely tell you he’s terrible defensively but only because it’s true. Cozens is big, fast, and works hard, and he has just enough skill make a good career out of those traits. His lack of hockey IQ on both sides of the puck is an issue, and most Sabres fans agree he should be playing wing, not C.
 
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I think of Norris as a bit of a Diet Tavares.

He's a cerebral, smooth player, and is rarely making you jump out of your seat.

His hockey IQ helps him become decent defensively. For a slight looking guy, and he's more of a finesse player, he will play the body defensively.

He's a fine PKer for the same reasons. He and Pinto had established a strong shorthanded offence scoring 6 SHG (3 each, with is tied for 3rd in the NHL). He has a bit of that Stone ability to anticipate plays and get into position.

He wins faceoffs. He has a 53.8% and that's a quality that the Sens will miss. Ottawa was 4th in the NHL in faceoff percentage, with Giroux and Norris as standouts. We'll see if Cozens is up for the challenge.

His physical skills for the most part are not that noteworthy. He's a fairly average stick handler and puck handler. He's a decent passer, but as a shoot-first centre, he tends to look for the shot. He may have above average speed but he's no speed demon.

When he first came back from injury, he had a tendency to shy away from contact. We were concerned that it was either physical or psychological. He wouldn't go to the dirty areas or more importantly, the front of the net.

Thankfully, he seems to have gotten past that, as this season, he's playing the way he was for the most part, engaging around the net and driving the goalie even at the risk of contact.

He's a very selective shooter so his career shooting percentage is high. He's just one of those guys (like Stamkos) who has high shooting percentage seasons more often than not.

Always makes you wonder if he'd score more if he shot more, but it's really more about getting into good positions.

His goal scoring isn't restricted to his one-timer slapper, but for his big breakout year, it was his bread and butter. It was automatic, and he ended up scoring 16 PPGs which was tied with Stamkos, Ovechkin, Rantanen, Matthews and Reinhart.

I haven't seen it this season. He's not used in the same position as he was on the PP, for the most part, but in general the one-timer hasn't been the way it was. It also makes you wonder if the reason he isn't there is because that shot isn't quite there.

Because he's a finesse player, there will be games or stretches where he isn't that noticeable. And then he'll have a game with 3 points.

He has a fairly reserved and confident demeanor, so you don't see him involved in a lot of antics. He'll still lay the body fairly often, but more in a forechecking capacity than thunderous physical play.

He's a solid all-around player. His goal scoring may have dropped off that torrid season, but he's improved a lot on the defensive side of the game.
 
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People find this comparison funny but Sloth did give a bunch of kids the guts to take on adult criminals… I know I’d feel a lot better digging for pucks in the corner with that guy having my back.

...amigo, I love the way Brady plays the game and still sting when I think the Habs could have picked him instead of Kotkaniemi...you must admit, however, there is a small bit of a resemblance... :biglaugh:
 
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