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

[NyQuil]

Cozens Points pace
22-23 69
23-24 49
24-25 43

Safe bet there as well without massively improving, that is not only underperforming for a 2C, but definitely for $7M AAV for 5 more seasons.

Technically he's at 48 for his tenure with Ottawa to date.

It's definitely light for a 2C but that's also why he was available for an $8M AAV contract for 5 more seasons.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Norris GP
21-22 66
22-23 8
23-24 50
24-25 56

Seems its a serious issue there like Sens fans warned.

Cozens Points pace
22-23 69
23-24 49
24-25 43

Safe bet there as well without massively improving, that is not only underperforming for a 2C, but definitely for $7.1M AAV for 5 more seasons.

Meh, the whole team has dried up offensively. It's improbable Cozens will ever be a 70 point player, but I also doubt he'll end up being a 45 point player.

 

[landy]

I dont know exactly why but all I see is Kyle Turris here.

 

[zenator]

2 of the player negatives have been true so far...

Cozens: poor defensively

Norris: always injured

 

[NyQuil]

I dont know exactly why but all I see is Kyle Turris here.

That's actually a pretty good comparable.

Turris turned into a pretty serviceable #2C for awhile (actually led the Senators in playoff goals over his tenure) but his footspeed became a problem when he aged, and the Sens cut ties with him at the right time, when he was asking for a very large and extended contract.

“Everybody, for the most part, agrees that the marketplace for Kyle Turris is in the vicinity of $6.5 million [per season], ballpark, and he wants a minimum of seven or eight years,” Kypreos said.

The term was scarier than the dollars in a lot of ways.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Yeah good for you. Congrats on missing the playoffs for 14 years in a row but still talking shit. I'd be bitter too but I'd be able to have a civil conversation.

For the sake of everyone else, let's hope you dont get any more bitter. Damn!

Also, seems like both players are showing their warts. Cozens is looking more like he did in Buffalo (wonky) and Norris is injured. Still believe Cozens would be much better off on the wing. I talked to some Sens fans, and many agreed he looks 'wonky' again. Sabres fans think it's a confidence issue + his hockey IQ isnt that high. He has some really intriguing physical tools, though, which is why I think the wing may be better suited for him.

 

[DJN21]

Yeah good for you. Congrats on missing the playoffs for 14 years in a row but still talking shit. I'd be bitter too but I'd be able to have a civil conversation.

Is that what you think youre doing with this response lol?

 

[bert]

Is that what you think youre doing with this response lol?

Follow the entire convo....

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

With the focus in this thread on Cozens v. Norris, I should point out that Docker has proven to be quite useful in his own right for the Sabres.

It's good to see him as a regular somewhere. Just got some context, JBD had little to no trade value and wasn't a fit in Ottawa. He was basically stashed away the entire season and only dressed when we had injuries.

It was unlikely he would be qualified. I'm not even sure they would have gotten a 4th for him like Buffalo got for Jokiharju.

So it's good to see him carve out a regular role in Buffalo. But it's probably similar to the Jokiharju trade where no Sabres fans has even thought twice about him, despite him playing top pairing minutes in Boston.

 

[Chainshot]

It's good to see him as a regular somewhere. Just got some context, JBD had little to no trade value and wasn't a fit in Ottawa. He was basically stashed away the entire season and only dressed when we had injuries.

It was unlikely he would be qualified. I'm not even sure they would have gotten a 4th for him like Buffalo got for Jokiharju.

So it's good to see him carve out a regular role in Buffalo. But it's probably similar to the Jokiharju trade where no Sabres fans has even thought twice about him, despite him playing top pairing minutes in Boston.

I mean, I've thought about Jokiharju in Boston and how I wonder if any other player in NHL history has been on two separate teams with 10-game losing streaks with them on the roster and regularly in the lineup. But that's me.

JBD is just a guy. If they keep him around, eh, whatever. He's a body and shoots in a manner that allows the to balance two of their pairs. It would take a lot to consider him a big get.

 

[TageGod]

I mean, I've thought about Jokiharju in Boston and how I wonder if any other player in NHL history has been on two separate teams with 10-game losing streaks with them on the roster and regularly in the lineup. But that's me.

JBD is just a guy. If they keep him around, eh, whatever. He's a body and shoots in a manner that allows the to balance two of their pairs. It would take a lot to consider him a big get.

I think he is a solid depth guy that we needed. Maybe he can find a little more next year and stick with Dahlin or Power.

So is the consensus on Norris a goal scorer, right wall PP, sucks with assists 5v5, solid defensively, good PK? I don't have nearly enough time to sift through 40 pages lol.

 

[Macbanan]

I'm just glad I don't have to watch our stubborn coach play the triplet of stupidity in the Peterka-Cozens-Quinn line ever again.

Concentrating the worst hockey sense on one line was not a good environment to develop flawed but skilled players.

Peterka has some seriously high skill to offset the dumb plays, the others not so much, though they obviously are skilled. All of them play better once separated.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I mean, neither player was going to magically change right away. Ottawa is going to hope they can steer him back in the right direction this off-season and get the Sabres stink off him. And Buffalo is going to hope Norris gets healthy and has a change of luck on the injury front.

Ottawa is a better organization right now, so they are betting on themselves some. Buffalo isn’t, so their gamble of pure luck and injuries not occurring—rather than them having to fix a player—actually makes sense

 

[Tuna99]

Don’t think anyone in Ottawa woild redo the Norris-Cosens trade but tje realization that Cozens plays a frustrating game where he’ll Be good one shift and then get beat completely clean on a puck battle the next shift and not seem to be desperate to make uk for it.

Cozens is Malkin light, can be physical also can be soft, can be complexity enegaged and completely checked out on the same shift.

I still like the trade, but Cozens has a lot more to give IMO whereas Norris gave everybting every shift and has way more leadership

 

[zenator]

For some reason I get Sabres Reddit posts on my main page sometimes, which I read but didn't participate in.

It's cute that Sabrefan is calling it the Cozens for JBD trade, and they think JBD is a great player and is better than Cozens.

Put JBD on the market and maybe a team will offer a 3rd round pick for him.

 

[stempniaksen]

Also, seems like both players are showing their warts. Cozens is looking more like he did in Buffalo (wonky) and Norris is injured. Still believe Cozens would be much better off on the wing. I talked to some Sens fans, and many agreed he looks 'wonky' again. Sabres fans think it's a confidence issue + his hockey IQ isnt that high. He has some really intriguing physical tools, though, which is why I think the wing may be better suited for him.

I don't think it'll happen this year because of the chemistry shown on the Perron/Cozens/Batherson line and the fact the Senators kind of need Cozens to stay at C unless they want to play Grieg there but Cozens on the wing is something I'm interested in seeing. When the trade was made I mentioned how a Tkachuk - Stutzle - Cozens line might be a good fit for everyone involved and would be Cozens best shot at getting back to being a 30 goal scorer, I still think the team should circle back on that next season if and when the lines end up in a blender.

 

[tsujimoto74]

For some reason I get Sabres Reddit posts on my main page sometimes, which I read but didn't participate in.

It's cute that Sabrefan is calling it the Cozens for JBD trade, and they think JBD is a great player and is better than Cozens.

Put JBD on the market and maybe a team will offer a 3rd round pick for him.

No one thinks JBD is “great.” The reality is that Cozens had been a net negative player for the Sabres for the last 2 years. The team has been better with Norris sitting in the press box than it was with Cozens on the ice.* JBD playing and looking competent is a nice plus, though.

*And to be clear, I don’t mean to suggest that the Sabres’ problems are Cozens’ fault, but his play at center was absolutely one of the issues plaguing Buffalo.