Buffalo Sabres: Bold predictions for each player under 25 in 2022

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres is congratulated by teammates Victor Olofsson #71 and Tage Thompson #72 during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres is congratulated by teammates Victor Olofsson #71 and Tage Thompson #72 during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Sabres
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – APRIL 21: Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils and Dylan Cozens #24 of the Buffalo Sabres cahse afte rthe puck during the third period at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Dylan Cozens logs 45 takeaways

Few on the Buffalo Sabres put in the work quite like Dylan Cozens. And while it’s true that, to enjoy a long career in the NHL, work ethic must be a primary factor in anyone’s program, Cozens takes it to another level.

While most in the NHL universe will focus on Cozens’ points output, I looked over at his number of takeaways over his first two seasons. In 2020-21, he logged 0.317 takeaways per game before that number jumped to 0.417. This year, I’m expecting the jump to 0.517 or even more, which sits at 42.

Knowing Cozens’ strong work ethic, I wanted to give him a few more over the 0.517 threshold I initially projected, but a reasonable number. I came up with 45, something that Cozens will need to work for if he hopes to reach it – he will  but not so much that you’re scoffing at this section.