The Buffalo Sabres finally made a big trade and if there’s one message here, it’s that underperforming long stretches won’t be tolerated. We all know that’s been the case with Dylan Cozens ever since he gifted fans some fools gold in 2022-23. That season, he ended up with 68 points and 31 goals, setting the stage for an outrageous 2023-24 season, right?
Not right, as Cozens struggled to get anything going with 18 goals and 47 points. Cozens had a chance to bounce back this season, but he failed in that endeavor, with 31 points and 11 goals in 61 games. Over the past two seasons, Cozens’ shooting percentage fell from 9.0 to 7.9, proving he wasn’t a true top-six player.
Now, he’ll be an Ottawa Senator, as the Sens could use a player like Cozens who, despite his shortcomings, can bring an edgy game. Cozens logged 108 last season, but when head coach Lindy Ruff brought in a system that demanded more physicality, Cozens shined, registering 148 hits to date.
Still, a former first-round pick needs more productivity, and that’s what Cozens lacked. Dennis Gilbert, a glue player, will join Cozens in Ottawa and bring even more of an edge to the Sens. General manager Kevyn Adams also sent over a 2026 second-round pick.
What did the Sabres get in return for Cozens and Gilbert?
In return, the Blue and Gold acquired Josh Norris, another youngster who boasts some serious potential. Norris should be an upgrade over Cozens, as he’s got 20 goals and an amazing 21.3 shooting percentage, not bad for a player who’s recorded just 94 shots on goal.
Overall, he has 33 points in 53 games, so he’s got room to grow in points production, much like Cozens. Also like Cozens, Norris is a physical player, having logged 133 hits this season. He’s also a great asset at the faceoff dot, having won 386 faceoffs with a 53.8 faceoff win percentage.
Defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker joins Norris, and the 24-year-old is a work in progress. But considering the Sabres traded away Dennis Gilbert, this one’s a fair exchange. Bernard-Docker has four points and a goal in 25 games, with 25 blocks and 21 hits. Overall, he’s a part-time player who will log between 12 and 14 minutes per contest.
Sabres sold low and bought moderate here in trade with Sens
Dylan Cozens had enough chances with the Blue and Gold. And while Josh Norris hasn’t performed quite to expectations in Ottawa, I’d swap him for Cozens any day. His 20 goals this season stand out more than anything else, and scoring is something Cozens had been laughably bad at.
While Jacob Bernard-Docker looks like an organizational depth piece and part-time player, this one’s still a moderate buy here for the Sabres and a low sell. Having already extended Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker, this team showed zero interest in being your typical seller, and this most recent trade reinforces that.
No, it doesn’t mean the Blue and Gold are turning things around with only a handful of games remaining this season. But it does mean the Sabres could be gearing up for a memorable offseason.