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

[Hale The Villain]

It is interesting to hear how much interest there was in Norris league-wide. Apparently, San Jose, Vancouver, and Nashville were interested.

My prediction was wrong, I thought he would be very difficult to move for anything but iffy contracts.

Vancouver didn't have the right pieces. To think, we were that close to getting Soucy.

Yeah it's pretty shocking to me there was so much interest in Norris.

The very fact that Staios was looking to move Norris in the middle of a tight playoff race should have scared teams away.

Especially considering this is a player that has major injury concerns going forward. Sens have insider info about the state of his shoulder and obviously did not feel confident he'll justify his contract going forward.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Yeah it's pretty shocking to me there was so much interest in Norris.

The very fact that Staios was looking to move Norris in the middle of a tight playoff race should have scared teams away.

Especially considering this is a player that has major injury concerns going forward. Sens have insider info about the state of his shoulder and obviously did not feel confident he'll justify his contract going forward.

Yeah also @Burrowsaurus - you told me I was wrong after the trade and I doubled down - but a lot of info has since come out and clearly Norris had value well beyond what I thought he had.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

French media are so piss at Buffalo about this trade. They can believe we have Cozen for Norris. Montreal try to acquire him

It must have been a mistake by Buffalo. If they knew Montreal needed him, they would have sent him there because they understand that the world revolves around the bleu blanc rouge.

 

[DrEasy]

Yeah also @Burrowsaurus - you told me I was wrong after the trade and I doubled down - but a lot of info has since come out and clearly Norris had value well beyond what I thought he had.

You just wanted Soucy because his name sounds like Ceci.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Yeah also @Burrowsaurus - you told me I was wrong after the trade and I doubled down - but a lot of info has since come out and clearly Norris had value well beyond what I thought he had.

Maybe we’ll get Soucy one day man. One day.

If they got me galchenyuk they can get you Soucy

 

[bicboi64]

Really curious as to what other teams were offering for Norris.

 

[PlayOn]

Really curious as to what other teams were offering for Norris.

Seravalli went in on the Sabres here:



He quotes a GM that said “Can’t trade for a guy with a mashed potato for a shoulder”. His take seems to be that Norris did not have much value.

I don’t really think it’s as crazy as he seems to though. Buffalo didn’t want a futures deal, they probably wanted a C, so I’m not sure how many teams could offer them what we did. Norris is also a lot of what Buffalo needs, sometimes you have to take risks.

 

[R2010]

Well I saw something and it’s bothered me for a while. I trust my gut. But definitely could be wrong.

He's just half-Newfoundlander and his dad rubbed off on him a lot. honestly, I think that's what you're interpreting as overly casual.

 

[BondraTime]

Seravelli went in on the Sabres here:



He quotes a GM that said “Can’t trade for a guy with a mashed potato for a shoulder”. His take seems to be that Norris did not have much value.

I don’t really think it’s as crazy as he seems to though. Buffalo didn’t want a futures deal, they probably wanted a C, so I’m not sure how many teams could offer them what we did. Norris is also a lot of what Buffalo needs, sometimes you have to take risks.

I agree with that take, I really don’t understand it from Buffalos POV

Unless what Seravalli said about “I don’t care how badly Cozens wanted out” meant Cozens told them he was done in Buffalo, then it makes a bit of sense from their end.

 

[R2010]

Great points here.

Also what made him so dangerous in his 35G season was his ability to consistently get good one-timers off, even if the pass wasn't perfect.

Doesn't seem to have the same kind of range after multiple shoulder surgeries.

Yeah it's got to be exactly in his wheelhouse now and even then he doesn't get it released the same way. Had a god given talent for shooting but that's been taken away and without that he's a 5 million dollar guy not an 8. Hope he has a long career.

 

[PlayOn]

I agree with that take, I really don’t understand it from Buffalos POV

Unless what Seravalli said about “I don’t care how badly Cozens wanted out” meant Cozens told them he was done in Buffalo, then it makes a bit of sense from their end.

I’m sure Cozens asked for a trade. Seravalli mentioned a few weeks ago there were a lot of malcontents in Buffalo so I assume he was one given this comment.

His argument seems to be that they should have waited until summer but I don’t think that was gonna change anything. Practically every C available has trade protection and would block Buffalo.

 

[Ouroboros]

I’m sure Cozens asked for a trade. Seravalli mentioned a few weeks ago there were a lot of malcontents in Buffalo so I assume he was one given this comment.

His argument seems to be that they should have waited until summer but I don’t think that was gonna change anything. Practically every C available has trade protection and would block Buffalo.

Friedman talked about this on the 32 thoughts deadline wrap up - said something to the effect of 'Buffalo looked at a lot of centers who had protection and told them no'.

Buffalo is similar to Ottawa in a lot of ways - free agents don't go there, players with trade protection won't waive for them, and they've spent years building a well-earned bad reputation. The Senators are digging their way out of that to some extent, but Buffalo are pretty much at rock bottom.

If you're dead-set on making a change and you don't want futures, Norris might be the best the Sabres could reasonably do.

 

[branch]

An engaged Cozens is going to be very valuable to this team

 

[Micklebot]

My biggest worry about the trade was whether it would disrupt the room. Cozens really seems to be fitting in well, the team still seems to be tight. I think we've averted the worst case scenario, and at this point, it's looking like how much of the upside will we get.

Cozens had a lot of potential coming into the league, if this is how he plays when he's motivated, that bodes extremely well. If Green can clean up his defensive game, even better.

So far so good. I was initially skeptical, but he looks like a good fit for the room, and on the ice. Still going to miss Norris, but that's part of the game.