5 outstanding building blocks for the Buffalo Sabres

Feb 25, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner (53) takes a shot against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner (53) takes a shot against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
4 of 6
Buffalo Sabres
Jan 30, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates a goal in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Dylan Cozens

Cozens isn’t the type of player built for the top scoring line given his streakiness production-wise. However, it’s easy to forgive Cozens, since he has just 103 games of NHL experience. Translation: Cozens has a long way to go development-wise. 

Cozens also needs to learn to tone things down, given his 49 penalty minutes in 62 contests this season. Despite his shortcomings, which are nothing more than growing pains, Cozens has improved, logging 0.5 points per game, eclipsing his 0.33 points per game last season.

His shooting percentage sits at 10.3%, nearly a four-percent increase from 2020-21. He’s also been tasked with more face-offs this season, but his 43.8% win percentage shows he still has a lot of room to grow. Yet if his productivity increased from Year 1 to Year 2, it indicates any new responsibility thrown onto his shoulders will as well.

Look for Cozens to spend at least another season with inconsistent but improved play. However, expect him to blossom in 2023-24.