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

In the end, it's really not going to matter how either player looks individually. The Sabres will continue to be a tire fire. They wont get the most out of Norris who has actually looked solid...for now. Ottawa is making progress atleast, and Cozens has a new glow to him.

Ottawa is going to enjoy their new shiny toy while Buffalo turns theirs into a terd. Boy, they are terrible, and Norris is just going to be another player that is sucked up into the shit that is the Buffalo Sabres. About the only good thing to come from all of this is- I wont really care what happens with either player because I wont be watching hockey. Ive only watched a few games this year, and I sure as hell wont be watching any next year while Adams is at the helm.

Dark times as a Sabres fan but it's cool to see Cozens happy atleast. Ruff confirmed how much struggling here was weighing on the kid. I'm glad he escaped here. It has to be much better for his mental health.
 
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ottawagm said:
I wouldn't be surprised to see Norris moved in the summer for a package of futures, to one of the other teams that wanted him (VAN/NSH/STL), which Ottawa wouldn't have wanted for the playoff push.
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I'll always be a Josh Norris fan. He seems like a great dude, and is a solid, well rounded player.

For his own sake, I hope he escapes Buffalo and gets to Vancouver or St. Louis where he can compete for the playoffs. It's a bit cruel how he was finally on the verge of the playoffs and got traded. I don't blame Sens management, as they need to do what they can to improve the team. 5 on 5 scoring / driving the play was a big weakness they addressed.

Seeing Cozens so exuberant celebrating his Sens goals, and in interviews, and Norris expressionless, forcing a bit of a smile made me sad.
 
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ottawagm said:
I wouldn't be surprised to see Norris moved in the summer for a package of futures, to one of the other teams that wanted him (VAN/NSH/STL), which Ottawa wouldn't have wanted for the playoff push.
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Sabres wouldn’t deal Cozens to a team for futures a week ago, they don’t want them. Doesn’t make much sense to trade Norris a few months after.

Sabres are 14 years in the drain, they aren’t going to be selling a new piece for futures again
 
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Bobby Bottle Service said:
Cozens for Norris straight up is a good deal for Ottawa to have a healthy body for their playoff run. Getting a 2nd rounder was robbery.

This was a pure "Gotta do something" desperation deal for the Sabres. Terry can go frack himself.
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It makes sense in a vaccum, but when you’re in a situation like Adams was in and feel you have to do something to do something, that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable as a GM. You have every other GM swirling around looking to take advantage of you. Sens fans know this better than most in the final years of Dorian.
 
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MOGlLNY said:
Cozens is fine 5v5 it’s special teams where he doesn’t have the hockey IQ to thrive. Sabres have good 5v5 numbers and can afford to give up some of that to hopefully have Norris improve their PP.
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Norris will also greatly improve their PK, expect to see some SHG.
 
TheBarnIsElectric said:
Cozens is definitely not a bruiser. He has hit more this season, but they're more like check the box hits than aggressive hits. If you're expecting a fearless player who skates around and imposes himself physically all over the ice, you're going to be disappointed. He's more of a speed, transition puck carrier with a good, but inconsistent shot.

Could any sens fans give a brief synopsis of Norris' injury history?
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I read ahead and didn't see anyone answer your post so here is the synposis:
- had his 1st shoulder surgery in 2019 after injury at WJC.
- had 2nd surgery in 2023 after injuring it in Oct 2022 and rehab didn't work.
- had 3rd surgery in 2024 after injuring it again. This time, he went to the same surgeon as Tarasenko who had similar issue where he also needed 3 surgeries to finally get it fixed properly. Seems this surgeon also uses stem cell therapy to help with the healing.
- this season he has had 2 injuries: 1st was to his jaw when he went face first onto the ice. 2nd injury was mid-body (groin area) where he fell awkwardly to the ice trying to avoid an opponent.

He had the 2nd most hits on the team this year so shoulder seems to be OK. During interviews he said he had to get over the mental side of it (afraid of it being injured again) but now, it's 100%.
 
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NyQuil said:
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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Wow Nyquil, great post. You described him perfectly.
 
Dubi Doo said:
Buffalo is desperate for centers like this. I'm really intrigued by Norris. Pretty happy with the trade thus far as I'm sure Ottawa fans are with Cozens. Top-6Cs are not easy to come by, and Cozens was a great trade chip to use for such a player w/ some risk attached. No way he returns a top-6C with zero risk to them. His value wasn't nearly high enough for that type of return. But for me, I'm always going to lean toward a defensively responsible top-6C over a top-6W who can't handle the grind of the center position.

Let's hope Norris stays healthy. He's exactly what Buffalo needs in a 2C. The big issue is Ottawa seems to be figuring it out while Buffalo hasn't shown any ability to figure it out. Norris may turn into a nice piece for Buffalo, but if he's stuck in the wasteland that is Buffalo, then who really cares? If Ottawa turns it around, and Cozens is a good top-6W for them going forward, then all the glory to them.
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Ottawa needed to change ownership, GM and coaching staff to see improvement. GM identified goaltending, coaching and a lack of veterans with winning pedigree as a need, which he filled in the off-season. Steve Staois may be a rookie GM, but he's done a great job so far. Hope to see similar changes for Buffalo fans, you deserve it.
 
Well hopefully Norris injury isn't long term. Not a good look having a player with such substantial injury concerns go down injured after only 3 games.

I really don't understand how Kevyn Adams is employed at this point, even as a boot licking yes man.
 
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BondraTime said:
Melnyk was dead before the contract was signed.
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Though I've thought the real money vs. cap money is one of the reasons Buffalo gave up the draft pick in this - they bought dollar savings over the longer course of the contracts since so much more of Norris' real money has been paid out.
 
Chainshot said:
Though I've thought the real money vs. cap money is one of the reasons Buffalo gave up the draft pick in this - they bought dollar savings over the longer course of the contracts since so much more of Norris' real money has been paid out.
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Yeah it makes very, very little sense from this Sens fans point of view. Sens got a high pick, will save cap, will save real money over the course of both contracts, all the while sending a guy with widely known injury liability.
 
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BondraTime said:
Yeah it makes very, very little sense from this Sens fans point of view. Sens got a high pick, will save cap, will save real money over the course of both contracts, all the while sending a guy with widely known injury liability.
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I didn't get into the possibility of the contract being paid by insurance as a possible savings for the Sabres owner too. It all aligns.
 
It makes sense for Sens players to play through mild pain and injury. Makes no sense for Sabres, though.

I think its as simple as that, and Norris’ current injury isnt one to really worry about longterm.
 
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LiseL said:
Ottawa needed to change ownership, GM and coaching staff to see improvement. GM identified goaltending, coaching and a lack of veterans with winning pedigree as a need, which he filled in the off-season. Steve Staois may be a rookie GM, but he's done a great job so far. Hope to see similar changes for Buffalo fans, you deserve it.
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Someone literally had to die for us to take a step out of purgatory.

Hope Norris' injury is minor.
 
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