Confirmed with Link: [OTT/BUT] Josh Norris & JBD traded for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert & 2026 2nd

[Sens of Anarchy]

The whole “sabres fan coming in peace” thing where they come in unsolicited and dump on the guy they just sent over is super weird lmao.

Agreed .. and the hook line and sinker it gets swallowed with is pretty super weird too

 

[Knave]

I'm willing to bet you big money Ottawa management asked to have it recorded. They're likely trying to show, very clearly, they can be trusted.

Ottawa want their 1st round pick back.
Buffalo wants credibility and for their management to look professional and respectable.

It's an obvious 'win' but someone needed to get the ball rolling and the teams needed to approve.

 

[Micklebot]

I'm willing to bet you big money Ottawa management asked to have it recorded. They're likely trying to show, very clearly, they can be trusted.

My understanding was all trade calls are recorded, no?

 

[GrierIsGod123]

Hopefully Cozens will help with 5 v 5 scoring which is far more important & the much larger need. Defensive play isn’t Cozen’s forte. Green will coach him on that, but the transformation won’t occur overnight.

This is a very interesting piece of this trade, at least for me. The Sabres are one of the better 5 on 5 scoring teams in the league. It'll be interesting to see if that translates in this trade. Will Norris continue to struggle 5 on 5 in the Sabres system? Will Cozens be able to translate his relative 5 on 5 success in a different/more defensive system? Same goes for special teams as well.

I get the feeling that Norris is not necessarily a PP facilitator and more the beneficiary of Stutz/Giroux/Batherson perhaps. Correct me if I'm wrong there, but I'm not sure he'll be able to help us where we really it, and that is with good passing and deception on the PP.

Cozens has had success on the right wall at times on our top PP. He had a string of games two seasons ago where he'd find Dahlin with a backwards passing play he likes, then over to Tage for the slapper. I wonder if you guys will try him there. He's typically not been a good net front guy as he is not good at the positioning part of it.

 

[ottawagm]

“Is there anything buffalo needs to know about Norris contract” lmao. Dorion’s legacy.

Will we get in trouble for not saying it has a NTC later on?

 

[DackellDuck]

I'm happy he had a good game for you guys. He will certainly do that from time to time. It became rare over the last two seasons where he'd put together a good game, often a period at a time.

If the Sens can find a way to minimize his shortcomings, he'll be totally fine and useful even. He's going to ride the adrenaline high right now and just play using instincts. It's when he settles in that I'd start to worry. I will be interested to see how he looks after 20 games or so.

Well hopefully in 20 games he’s getting his first taste of NHL playoff action and the adrenaline is even higher.

 

[Knave]

This is a very interesting piece of this trade, at least for me. The Sabres are one of the better 5 on 5 scoring teams in the league. It'll be interesting to see if that translates in this trade. Will Norris continue to struggle 5 on 5 in the Sabres system? Will Cozens be able to translate his relative 5 on 5 success in a different/more defensive system? Same goes for special teams as well.

I get the feeling that Norris is not necessarily a PP facilitator and more the beneficiary of Stutz/Giroux/Batherson perhaps. Correct me if I'm wrong there, but I'm not sure he'll be able to help us where we really it, and that is with good passing and deception on the PP.

Cozens has had success on the right wall at times on our top PP. He had a string of games two seasons ago where he'd find Dahlin with a backwards passing play he likes, then over to Tage for the slapper. I wonder if you guys will try him there. He's typically not been a good net front guy as he is not good at the positioning part of it.

Norris is a guy who has an injury history to his shoulders. He's been relatively healthy so far this season.

He's much more of a shot guy. The way he will get his points is on the rush with a hard shot or on the halfwall/faceoff circle area on the PP or sometimes out in the high slot where he can receive a pass and get his shot off. This year in Ottawa - on the PP - we have kind of moved away from that set structure of feeding him in particular so it has been an adjustment for him.

I don't want to say he's a bad passer but he doesn't make great passes or great pass-making decisions.

If your PP needs a heavy shot off to one of the two sides, Norris can be that guy with some confidence issues here and there. If you're a team that scores on the rush a lot and that is what your lines do, Norris can work with you.

This year Ottawa is playing an extremely defensive minded game which Norris is good at... but it doesn't leave much room for odd-man rushes or rushes in general.

Essentially a lot of his down year is lack of confidence, changes to how the PP operates to be less focused on feeding him and the team trading rushes less frequently and relying on cycling the puck and slower but safer breakouts. Norris is at his best on the rush or off to the side where someone can feed him a puck for a quick shot.

 

[GrierIsGod123]

Agreed .. and the hook line and sinker it gets swallowed with is pretty super weird too

Would you rather not hear about a player many of us have seen basically ever game of his NHL career?

I was trying to be unfiltered and completely honest for you guys. I appreciate the same on Norris, knowing there's a lot of risk on both ends here. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of Cozens and haven't been for some time. You may get some that paint a rosier picture, but there's a lot of misinformation about his game that goes back to his juniors days. He's often touted as a tough 2-way guy and the reality is just not that. He's a straight line offensive player with good speed, mediocre hands and questionable hockey IQ. Physically gifted and athletic and seems to be a good, hardworking kid with heart. It just doesn't translate in most games, and is more pronounced against good opponents.

Your fans are some of the more respectful I've run into on this forum tbh, a lot different than Montreal. I truly am not trying to come here just to dump on him. I did plenty of that on our own forums in the GDT's. This is one of those trades that might actually work out for everyone in the end. We have a bigger need for a strong 2-way center as both Thompson and Cozens are weak defensively.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Would you rather not hear about a player many of us have seen basically ever game of his NHL career?

I was trying to be unfiltered and completely honest for you guys. I appreciate the same on Norris, knowing there's a lot of risk on both ends here. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of Cozens and haven't been for some time. You may get some that paint a rosier picture, but there's a lot of misinformation about his game that goes back to his juniors days. He's often touted as a tough 2-way guy and the reality is just not that. He's a straight line offensive player with good speed, mediocre hands and questionable hockey IQ. Physically gifted and athletic and seems to be a good, hardworking kid with heart. It just doesn't translate in most games, and is more pronounced against good opponents.

Your fans are some of the more respectful I've run into on this forum tbh, a lot different than Montreal. I truly am not trying to come here just to dump on him. I did plenty of that on our own forums in the GDT's. This is one of those trades that might actually work out for everyone in the end. We have a bigger need for a strong 2-way center as both Thompson and Cozens are weak defensively.

simple i don't know you,,, plenty of posters here you don't know could come in peace to your board and if you bought what they had to say on players you would be misguided and worse off. nothing personal I have no measuring stick as to what you know and what you see and how you evaluate players.

so to your opening question.. yes

 

[GrierIsGod123]

simple i don't know you,,, plenty of posters here you don't know could come in peace to your board and if you bought what they had to say on players you would be misguided and worse off. nothing personal

I assure you, none of what I'm saying is inaccurate. A little jaded perhaps as it's been a frustrating couple of years with Cozens. I'm not sure I've watched a more frustrating player in our top 6. If he puts it all together, this is a slam dunk for you all though. Crazier things have happened.

We watched Tage Thompson be abhorrent on the ice, floundering and possibly looking like a non-NHL'er only to become a 47G/94 point guy while missing 10 games.

 

[LiseL]

Ehhhh, not bad but I am a big fan of Norris, not sure I'm as happy as I should be that this may be going down

I agree. If this trade had been for Peterka, I'd be all in. Unless the extra D is an improvement on what we currently have, will this actually improve the team's offense? Cozens has been struggling in Buffalo, moved up and down the line-up. He has more A than G but is that a good thing in Ottawa where they seem to have a lot of players not able to finish on chances? TSN analysts were saying he'd be harder to play against, esp in the playoffs, but you have to make it to the dance first for this to even be a factor. I hope Norris does really well in Buffalo, prove all the naysayers wrong.

 

[LiseL]

So, just so I understand they are having trouble scoring so they trade a 20 goal scorer, 33 pts for an 11 goal scorer, 31 pts & they have to add JBD a RD which they say are valuable to the deal? Yea, makes perfect sense. We have to add these cartoons now so people no we're not serious.


No hands? He's got the same amount of goals as Stutzle, he had 35 goals just two seasons ago before his injuries, he has scored some highlight reel goals. I like Cozens but he has 11 goals & 31 pts this yr while Norris has 33 pts & this team needs scoring forwards. And Ott has to add JBD a RD, why? They should be the ones adding to this deal.

Also Norris is clutch, something else Ottawa doesn't have a lot of.

 

[LiseL]

Yeah I don't really get it, Josh Norris is better at hockey... not even 2 years older and just a bit more expensive

Not sure what is going on here

TSN were saying he'd be harder to play against due to his size. Isn't that needed more on the back-end? I guess will have to wait and see how this all plays out but it could backfire IMO.

 

[LiseL]

Hey Sens fans. I am sort of a sabres fan still (who can really root for that franchise anymore?) coming in peace. Good luck with Cozens. I really liked him in his rookie and sophomore years, but he lost something in recent years. I hope a change of scenery is all he needs to reach his potential. I hope he gives you something to enjoy!

Wishing you the same. Norris was one of my favorite players, sorry to see him go. Hope he lights it up in Buffalo.

 

[LiseL]

Sabres fan here--hope Cozens can turn it around for y'all except when we meet. Really seemed like getting his face beaten in by Garnet Hathaway last year in a meaningless fight in a blowout loss completely broke him. He went from being a strong-skating, fairly dynamic playmaker with some defensive warts to looking like a literal kid amongst men most nights.

He's never been the strongest guy, but he's rarely looked confident for more than a game or two at a time over the past year and a half--he just loses an insane amount of puck battles on walls and can get knocked off the puck or stripped from behind far too often for someone who likes lugging the mail. He used to be a solid play-connector/facilitator type who could also use his speed and shot to take passes and either fire the puck quickly or get into open space and beat defenders in one-on-one situations, but his puck skills as of late are abysmal. Like many Sabres, his decision-making is spotty at best.

Cozens also really hasn't developed his defensive game much at all, but he's usually playing with at least one floater type at wing, and a lot of our defensemen and pretty much all our assistant coaches suck, so I'm hesitant to put all the blame on him. Hope he can bounce back and rediscover his old game from a couple years ago--he used to be a lot of fun to watch.

Well Norris is the exact opposite of what you describe: plays 200-ft game, great in the dot, 2nd most hits on the team after Brady, great on the PK. He's not a playmaker but has a wicked shot and is clutch. I think our team will miss what he brings to the table.

 

[Icelevel]

On top of the injury issues his attitude and casual demeanour was a problem I believe.

But wish him all the best in Buffalo.

 

[Big Muddy]

This is a very interesting piece of this trade, at least for me. The Sabres are one of the better 5 on 5 scoring teams in the league. It'll be interesting to see if that translates in this trade. Will Norris continue to struggle 5 on 5 in the Sabres system? Will Cozens be able to translate his relative 5 on 5 success in a different/more defensive system? Same goes for special teams as well.

I get the feeling that Norris is not necessarily a PP facilitator and more the beneficiary of Stutz/Giroux/Batherson perhaps. Correct me if I'm wrong there, but I'm not sure he'll be able to help us where we really it, and that is with good passing and deception on the PP.

Cozens has had success on the right wall at times on our top PP. He had a string of games two seasons ago where he'd find Dahlin with a backwards passing play he likes, then over to Tage for the slapper. I wonder if you guys will try him there. He's typically not been a good net front guy as he is not good at the positioning part of it.

Norris played the bumper position on the PP in the past. His good shot enabled him to score goals in that situation. This year, Green had him play a more defensive role and the PP scheme was different (Norris not being in the bumper position as much). He’s a well rounded player. Injuries have been the concern. I have no idea how Cozens will be utilized.

 

[LiseL]

Reminds me of some of the Capitals fans who said Jensen couldn't skate...

I seem to recall some Cap fans saying his play slipped when partnered with duds in that last year.

 

[SENStastic]

The message I’m getting from the move is a great deal of confidence in how Shane Pinto is developing.

Possibly, I used to think that he has a good shot at becoming a 2C a year or two ago, not so sure about that anymore tbh. Still see him as a good 3C on a competitive roster going forward, he's not that young anymore and I don't know if he's got much more growth room left, maybe as an injury fill in he can play up the roster in stretches but I doubt he'll make a great staple 2C in the future.

 

[NyQuil]

Possibly, I used to think that he has a good shot at becoming a 2C a year or two ago, not so sure about that anymore tbh. Still see him as a good 3C on a competitive roster going forward, he's not that young anymore and I don't know if he's got much more growth room left, maybe as an injury fill in he can play up the roster in stretches but I doubt he'll make a great staple 2C in the future.

You may be right.

Hopefully we’ll get to see some different looks with him now that the roster has been shaken up.

 

[Relapsing]

Not if it's true.

Dylan is a good hockey player--from the neck down. Anytime he needs to make a decision, kitty bar the door. His situational awareness is among the worst I've seen over the last two years. And has left a huge void at the C2 position, weighing heavily on the Sabres lack of success.

To some degree, this may be due to Don Granato's run-n-gun, 'who-needs-defense' mandate before he got fired. It really hurt the development of Buffalo's young prospects who continue to struggle with the defensive responsibilities of the game. Add that to Cozens lack of hockey IQ and you've got a problem.

Maybe playing in Canada with a clean slate will allow him to rebuild his game. But those are long odds, IMO, as that hockey IQ issue is pretty fundamental.

Cozens played a really good game today..great hockey IQ and a career high in hits!

The duality of man

 

[bicboi64]

I assure you, none of what I'm saying is inaccurate. A little jaded perhaps as it's been a frustrating couple of years with Cozens. I'm not sure I've watched a more frustrating player in our top 6. If he puts it all together, this is a slam dunk for you all though. Crazier things have happened.

We watched Tage Thompson be abhorrent on the ice, floundering and possibly looking like a non-NHL'er only to become a 47G/94 point guy while missing 10 games.

Your perspective is appreciated, thanks for the words on Cozens. He had a great game today but doesn't hurt to have input from someone who actually watched Cozens.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Norris in a Sabres jersey doesn't look right.

It sucks for him on a personal level to put 6 years into this rebuild and get voted off the island as soon as we finally look to (maybe, knock on wood) be in a position to play playoff hockey.

Especially since he is going to a team that (while loaded with talent) is not exactly in a good position. That's a tough break.

 

[Rodzilla]

Norris in a Sabres jersey doesn't look right.

It sucks for him on a personal level to put 6 years into this rebuild and get voted off the island as soon as we finally look to (maybe, knock on wood) be in a position to play playoff hockey.

Especially since he is going to a team that (while loaded with talent) is not exactly in a good position. That's a tough break.

Bro I came here to post this

Cant help but feel a lil bad for him

I know he makes millions and stuff but traded away from his friends on a struggling team while the team here finally (knock on wood) has a chance to make the playoffs. Must really suck honestly, feel bad for the guy

 

[Chabots Outie]

Norris in a Sabres jersey doesn't look right.

It sucks for him on a personal level to put 6 years into this rebuild and get voted off the island as soon as we finally look to (maybe, knock on wood) be in a position to play playoff hockey.

Especially since he is going to a team that (while loaded with talent) is not exactly in a good position. That's a tough break.

Yup. I genuinely feel bad for Norris. He was a trooper during the tough years of the rebuild, and when the team is finally in a good position, he gets dealt to the team known with no hope. Now he has to watch all his good buddies make a playoff push.

Tough side of the business