As the Sabres continue to slide and it looks more and more like a lost season, many will ask what their plan will be around the trade deadline. One player that has been the subject of much speculation is center, Dylan Cozens.
The center has performed under expectations and it continues to look more and more like the Sabres will eventually move him. He only has 23 points during the season and currently is at a minus-19 for his plus/minus on the season.
Lindy Ruff attempted to get the most out of Cozens with a line change in early October. He did score four goals in the month of November and it seemed to be on the up and up. He, however, has regressed since and it seems more and more like he will be moved.
He does have more takeaways thus far this season than in any and his career. He is at 44 on the season. A positive though, is that he was won over 49% of his faceoffs.
Cozens could use a change of scenery and one team that may be look at him is Chicago
The Blackhawks may look to make the call to Buffalo and combine with Connor Bedard. This could prove an important combination for Chicago. The Blackhawks are where the Sabres are in the standings but may be looking at more upside entering the offseason.
Another option for Buffalo may be looking to trade Cozens to the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks currently are in third place in the wild card in the Western Conference. They may be look to make a move.
The move could be to put J.T. Miller as the starting center and Cozens on the second line. He may be struggling under Tuch and Thompson but could find a new groove behind a center like Miller.
Cozens last goal came in a 4-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a wrist shot that allowed Buffalo to go up 2-0 at Keybank Center. Said Cozens of the goal, “[Alex Tuch] just laid it right into me and I had all day to walk right down the middle there. That’s a dream right there, that amount of time and that amount of space.”
This quote fits perfectly into what Cozens may need moving forward. To have the perfect line around him and the space needed for him to improve. He did have almost 70 points two seasons ago.