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Buffalo Sabres: Kozak is one to watch after first preseason game

By Sion Fawkes

Sep 25, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Kozak (48) shoots the puck to score a goal past Washington Capitals center Joe Snively (91) during the second period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Kozak (48) shoots the puck to score a goal past Washington Capitals center Joe Snively (91) during the second period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Sabres are 1-0 in the preseason. And like typical preseason, their star players did not play, but a few fringe players showed up. 

Once again, Tyson Kozak made his presence felt. He was one of the best last week in the Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge, and now he just scored his first preseason goal.

Sure, Kozak played against primarily prospects last week and presumed prospects earlier today. But who cares? The kid has shown time and again in a span of about 11 days that he is one of the best prospects in the league at the moment. But it wasn’t Kozak’s goal that made me write this article: It was his overall performance on the ice. 

This isn’t to say Kozak should make the opening day roster. He probably isn’t ready for the big time, but Don Granato and the Sabres coaching staff needs to keep him in camp as long as they can.

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The Buffalo Sabres need to give Tyson Kozak a longer look

Kozak finished the game one for two in shots on goal, but he also recorded a block and two hits, showing once more that he remains the defensive-minded forward he identified himself as in 2021. Even more impressive? Kozak did all of this with just 13:04 of total ice time, the second lowest among Sabres forwards.

Of course, Kozak was not the first star in this one, an honor that I will put on Dylan Cozens, who logged 19:13 of ice time, two points, five shots on goal, and two hits. Cozens shined at the IIHF Worlds for Team Canada earlier in the year, and it looks like it may translate to the NHL.

As with Kozak, Cozens was playing against mainly prospects and lower liners. But still, he produced in a game in which he was supposed to produce.

Sabres to watch as training camp progresses. light. Related Story

It will be interesting to see how the Sabres decide to use Kozak going forward. But if there is an early assumption, he won’t be returning to the Portland Winterhawks just yet. There is also an outside chance Kozak ends up in Rochester.

(Statistics provided by Sabres.com)

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