5 Trade Destinations for Dylan Cozens Amid NHL Rumors
The Buffalo Sabres haven't clinched a playoff berth since 2010-11. Their ongoing struggle to rise out of the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings has made them the frequent subject of trade speculation.
Dylan Cozens has regularly featured in media trade chatter regarding the Sabres. He's sitting ninth on our January NHL trade block big board. The 23-year-old center's production is down since he reached a career-high 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 points in 2022-23.
That performance earned Cozens a seven-year contract worth $7.1 million annually. However, he slumped to 18 goals and 47 points in 79 games in 2023-24 and has nine goals and 21 points in 43 games thus far this season.
The Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski reported on Jan. 9 that the Sabres aren't shopping Cozens but his name keeps coming up because other NHL teams are calling about him. Lysowski believes the Sabres must reassess their handling of Cozens' development and build a plan to help him succeed.
Lysowski doubted the Sabres would get equal value for Cozens in a trade due to the decline in his production. He also believes trading him would further weaken their depth at center.
Nevertheless, the trade conjecture continues. Here are five possible destinations for Cozens if the Sabres decide to move him between now and the March 7 NHL trade deadline.
Calgary Flames
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On Oct. 17, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli said the Calgary Flames were in the market for a middle-six center. A month later, RG.org's Jim Biringer reported Flames general manager Craig Conroy had been in the market for a center since trading Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks last January.
On Dec. 31, Kent Wilson of the Calgary Sun examined whether Cozens would fit with the Flames. He examined the pros and cons, pointing out the 23-year-old center's regression and the Sabres' potential reluctance to trade him. Wilson also suggested he'd be an expensive acquisition in terms of contract and the Sabres' asking price.
Cozens could be a risky acquisition right now. However, a move to a new team with more experienced linemates could help him regain his form. Cozens also played his junior hockey in Lethbridge, Alberta, so he'd be returning to familiar territory.
The Flames can afford Cozen's contract given their current cap space of $36.6 million. Wilson noted they also had depth in draft picks and prospects to offer the Sabres. However, they might prefer a young center like Connor Zary in the deal.
Detroit Red Wings
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Like the Buffalo Sabres, the Detroit Red Wings are a rebuilding club with aspirations of ending a long playoff drought (eight years and counting) this season. They're also struggling to remain in the postseason hunt in the Eastern Conference and could use a boost to get them over the line.
On Jan. 8, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported his belief that the Red Wings had been looking at Dylan Cozens. Two days later, he claimed they scouted each other heavily before last month's holiday break. It got out that they were looking at Cozens. Friedman didn't know how far things had gotten, but two sources claimed a deal had been close.
Cozens' offensive stats would improve by centering Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat on the Wings' second line. He'd also fit with the younger players whom the Wings are attempting to build their future around. He would replace Andrew Copp as their second-line center, enabling him to drop to their third line.
The Wings are projected to have $9.2 million in salary-cap space by the March 7 trade deadline. They don't have a comparable young center to offer to the Sabres, but the promising Marco Kasper bundled with a draft pick and a prospect might make for a tempting offer.
Nashville Predators
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This season has been a big disappointment thus far for the Nashville Predators. Despite signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei last summer, they're mired near the bottom of the overall standings.
The lack of a skilled reliable center on the Predators' top line has been an issue. They're using Stamkos in that role, but the 34-year-old is now better suited as a left winger. Ryan O'Reilly's days as a top-line center are over as he's centering their second line.
Dylan Cozens is employed as a second-line center with the Sabres, but he could thrive offensively centering the Predators' top line with Marchessault on his right wing and Stamkos or Filip Forsberg on the left side.
On Dec. 16, RG.org's Marco D'Amico cited a source claiming Cozens was among the players who were being eyed by the Predators. Their $13.5 million in cap space means they can easily afford his $7.1 million cap hit. They have three first-round picks to dangle as trade bait, and they could also offer young center Fedor Svechkov in a package deal.
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Philadelphia Flyers
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The lack of a high-scoring center has been an issue for the Philadelphia Flyers. They've been juggling players to fill that role this season. Former Selke Trophy winner Sean Couturier is seeing checking-line duty, as his best seasons are behind him.
On Dec. 21, Sam Carchidi of The Hockey News suggested the Flyers should aggressively pursue Dylan Cozens. He believes Cozens could fill that first-line center position and regain his scoring form on the Flyers.
Carchidi proposed the Flyers should offer up center/winger Scott Laughton as part of the deal for Cozens. The 30-year-old Laughton is a little older, but Carchidi suggested including 25-year-old center Morgan Frost in the deal. Like Cozens, Frost might benefit from a change of scenery.
With $6.2 million in projected cap space by the March 7 trade deadline, the Flyers can't afford to take on Cozens' $7.1 million cap hit. However, a package of Laughton and Frost would clear $5.1 million from their books, giving them more than enough cap space for Cozens.
Vancouver Canucks
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On Dec. 16, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman spitballed a trade involving Dylan Cozens and the Vancouver Canucks during his 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. He proposed the Sabres could ship Cozens and defenseman Bowen Byram to the Canucks for center Elias Pettersson.
That opened the floodgates, as speculation grew regarding Pettersson's relationship with teammate J.T. Miller. That resulted in rumors that the Canucks were gauging the trade market for both players, which caused the pair to land on our January NHL trade block big board.
The Canucks reportedly want a center in return for Pettersson. Cozens doesn't have Pettersson's 100-point abilities, but he would fit in well centering their second line behind Miller. Including Byram in the deal would provide a welcome boost to the Canucks' thin blue line.
Moving Cozens' and Bryam's cap hits would make it easier for the Sabres to add Pettersson's $11.6 million cap hit. It's a deal that could benefit both clubs, but Friedman stressed that he was merely making his own proposal; it wasn't based on anything he'd heard.
Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.
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