The Buffalo Sabres have arguably the best prospect pool in the NHL. And there is one unsigned prospect to pay close attention to.
If you like junior hockey, be sure to watch Buffalo Sabres prospect Tyson Kozak in action if you get a chance. A seventh-round pick in 2021, Kozak’s 69 points in 66 games with the Portland Winterhawks turned heads, and now, the captain will begin his fifth and likely final season with the junior hockey program.
He made an impression at Sabres development camp in July. But of course, as a seventh round pick, it isn’t very easy to prove to the front office that you are worth keeping around in the system. It is possible, however, as winger Victor Olofsson was in that same position just a few years ago. Now, Olofsson is two good seasons away from landing a hefty contract.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Tyson Kozak is most definitely a late-round prospect to watch this season
One knock on Kozak is that he’s still small, clocking in at 173lb. But his level of physicality suggests he plays bigger than his size. And despite his stellar production in 2021-22, Kozak identifies as a defense-first player, which puts him into an identical mold as current center/winger, Rasmus Asplund.
However, there are times when that physicality backfires on him, evidenced by his 42 penalty minutes in 2021-22. By contrast, he had just 28 over the past two seasons in a total of 81 games.
Another intriguing aspect regarding Kozak is his ability to bounce back from lean outings. He had just one point (no goals) in the first eight games of 2021-22 before knocking down 39 (20 goals, 19 assists) over the next 30 games.
Kozak was one of those forwards who entered the WHL as a defensive-minded center, but he has since become one of the league’s better two-way players. His confidence is at an all-time high, and it will only continue to increase as he further develops his game in the WHL while working with multiple coaching staffs that include those with the Rochester Americans.
Overall, if there is one prospect to watch, it’s Tyson Kozak. While his draft status puts him behind the likes of Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich, and Isak Rosen, don’t be surprised if you see him become at least a top-tier prospect in Rochester as early as next season, if not more.
Update: On August 19th, 2022, the Buffalo Sabres signed Tyson Kozak to an entry-level deal.
Article Source: Tyson Kozak’s developing skills aid in journey to be a Sabres prospect by Madison Hricik
(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)