I don't think anybody is getting bought out, but it does help make a player more tradable. Through 5 games Cozens has 1 assist which was him shooting the puck wide of the net. That is a 13 point season pace. Let's say this is a disaster season and he has 30 points. Any acquiring GM would absolutely value that option exists when making the deal. It lowers their risk.
I don’t see any GM, or least any good one, caring about the buyout situation if they are looking to acquire any of Cozens, Sammy, Power, etc.
Acquiring young players with that many years left on deals will only appeal to them if they feel they can get the player back on track. If that GMs feels they were just in crap situation here and coming to their new team would get them back to what their initial pedigree was. Then they would have a talented young player playing to their capabilities on a good deal.
You’re effectively saying they would view them as not very good players anymore. But what the hell, let’s take a shot on them since we can always buy them out at 1/3. I can’t imagine any good GM thinking like that.
I’d also point out Sammy only has next offseason left to be bought out at 1/3. Cozens just the next 2 offseasons.