The Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs by just one point in 2022-23. Three driving forces fueled their rise up the standings: Tage Thompson establishing himself as an offensive stud, Rasmus Dahlin becoming an all-around force and The Kid Line (Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn).
As Thompson guided a first line also featuring Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch to high-end success, The Kid Line provided the much-needed secondary scoring the Sabres lacked in prior years. The internal development of young players was a sign the franchise's darkest days may finally be ending.
Unfortunately for Sabres fans, everything came tumbling down just one year later. Now, Buffalo once again faces questions about where the organization goes from here after a four-month stretch that included the departures of both Cozens and Peterka.
How The Kid Line arrived in Buffalo
The best aspect of The Kid Line from the Sabres' perspective was the fact all three players were homegrown talents. Drafting and developing impact contributors is essential for a team struggling to attract high-profile players via trades or free agency because of its long-term struggles.
Buffalo selected Cozens with the No. 7 overall pick in 2019. Quinn (No. 8 overall) and Peterka (No. 34) followed in the 2020 draft. Those arrivals were sandwiched around a pair of first overall selections, Dahlin in 2018 and fellow defenseman Owen Power in 2021.
Dahlin and Cozens were full-time players in 2021-22, while Quinn, Peterka and Power all received NHL cups of coffee that season to provide a glimmer of hope for the future.
Early success and sudden breakdown
The Sabres, who hadn't recorded more than 81 points since 2011-12, finally looked like a competitive team again in 2022-23. Head coach Don Granato installed an "all gas, no breaks" play style that allowed young players the freedom to make defensive mistakes in pursuit of offensive success.
Granato also worked to protect The Kid Line from tough defensive matchups — Quinn and Peterka both averaged less than 14 minutes per game — but the group still made magic happen in the attacking zone. Here's a look at each of their stat lines from the breakthrough campaign:
Cozens: 31 goals and 37 assists
Quinn: 14 goals and 23 assists
Peterka: 12 goals and 20 assists
Two things happened that halted the line's momentum, however.
First, Quinn suffered a ruptured Achilles during a 2023 offseason workout. It forced him to miss the start of the 2023-24 season, and he's since struggled to rediscover peak form. He was never an elite skater and that area of his game has been an issue following his return from the injury.
Second, Granato attempted to create a more balanced approach with an emphasis on defense in attempt to build a more sustainable brand of winning hockey. It didn't work. Most notably, Cozens failed to maintain his offensive prowess while being asked to play a better two-way game. His point total dipped from 68 in 2022-23 to 47 each of the past two seasons.
Granato was fired in April 2024 and the Sabres brought back franchise legend Lindy Ruff, who attempted to reunite The Kid Line at times last season, but the magic was gone.
Cozens, Peterka depart Sabres
As Buffalo slipped back down the standings — from 91 points (2022-23) to 84 (2023-24) then 79 (2024-25) — the latest in a long line of roster reconstructions began at last season's trade deadline.
The marquee move saw Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a second-round draft pick sent to the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators in exchange for center Josh Norris and blueliner Jacob Bernard-Docker. The Sabres non-tendered JBD, who signed with the Detroit Red Wings, leaving Norris as the only part of the return still on the roster.
Buffalo's makeover continued this offseason, headlined by the departure of Peterka. The Sabres received winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring in return. Although those players may be primed for bright futures, trading a player with 67 NHL goals at the age of 23 always comes with ample risk.
Other notable members of that 2022-23 squad who've since left the organization include Skinner, Casey Mittelstadt, Victor Olofsson and Henri Jokiharju.
What's next for Quinn?
Quinn will arrive to Sabres training camp with a lot of questions to answer. Most importantly, how does he look from a physical perspective after appearing a stride (or two) slow last season? He's now more than two years removed from the Achilles injury.
It's also unclear where the 23-year-old Canadian winger will fit in the Buffalo lineup. His recent production doesn't support putting him inside the top six, but he doesn't have the defensive acumen typically associated with players in the bottom six.
Quinn could provide a massive boost to the Sabres if he can return to the 30-goal trajectory he seemed destined for early in his career. It's impossible to say whether that's a realistic target until he's back on the ice in the preseason, though.
As the former OHL standout searches for new linemates, Sabres fans are left to wonder what could have been with The Kid Line.