How close are the Sabres to trading Dylan Cozens?

Credit: Dec 9, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) looks to make a pass during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Death, taxes and the Buffalo Sabres being pegged as sellers leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline.

It was supposed to be different this year – it really was. I was not as bullish on the Sabres as other pundits were, but there was a general expectation there would be a major step forward in Buffalo this season. Not only was there not a major step forward, there was a major step back.

As of Friday morning, the Sabres sit dead last in the Eastern Conference with 49 points, four back of the next closest Philadelphia Flyers. I dissected the Sabres’ flawed roster construction nearly two months ago, so we won’t go there again, but one thing is for certain: something needs to change in Buffalo.

As Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli mentioned a few months back, it appears Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is more in love with his individual players than the sum of his parts. This is evident with what I heard regarding defenseman Mattias Samuelsson going back to the summer, who was said to be close to an untouchable, according to two teams I spoke with who reached out on the availability of the player.

The Sabres’ season has been an unmitigated disaster – I think even Adams would concede that. And as much as Adams may love his players individually, it has not stopped teams from checking in and attempting to pick the carcass of a Sabres team that is dead in the water. The main target from opposing teams: center Dylan Cozens.

Cozens, 23, has been a constant on Seravalli’s Trade Targets board for several months. The ‘Workhorse from Whitehorse’ signed a seven year, $49.7 million contract two seasons ago in February of 2023. The 2022-23 campaign proved to be a career year for Cozens, finishing with 31 goals and 68 points.

Things have not gone well for Cozens – much like the Sabres – since the signing, as he has seen a consistent decline in his point total over the last 24 months. But there are numerous teams who will gladly take the chance on a 6-foot-3 centerman,.

As Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin wrote about a little over a month ago, there is no shortage of teams that could stand to add Cozens to their mix. One of those teams is the Calgary Flames, who have been widely reported (first by Seravalli) to have heavy interest in Cozens even following the trade that saw Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost brought into the fold.

While I have no doubt that the Flames have continued to keep tabs on Cozens, it has been relayed to me that no deal is close between the two teams. As one more than one person has said to me, it doesn’t seem like the Sabres are too keen on moving Cozens at this time. Could it be that the Sabres are simply not thrilled with what Calgary has to offer? Perhaps, as the Flames don’t have a young centerman that could go back the other way in a “hockey trade” – something I reckon the Sabres would want.

As I’ve previously reported (and also listed in Larkin’s piece), the Philadelphia Flyers are a team who have kept a close eye on Cozens’ availability. Following the trade with the Flames, the Flyers may have used all their bullets in the chamber to land a player like Cozens – but I don’t think that will keep them from remaining interested. The Flyers need centers in the worst way; this was only exemplified following moving Frost. If Cozens is indeed available, he is absolutely the kind of player the Flyers will need to push hard for. Problem is, what player can they give back?

By all accounts, the Sabres have zero interest in future assets and want a return that can help the team now. Much like the Flames, the Flyers don’t have an overtly attractive piece (that they’re willing to move) up front that may entice the Sabres. If Adams truly wants a pivot that can, not only help now, but mesh with the timeline of his group, the only player that could fit the bill is Noah Cates. Speaking with people close to the situation in Philadelphia, they too have gotten the impression from the Sabres that there isn’t a large appetite to move Cozens.

Once again another team who popped up in Larkin’s piece, I believe the Nashville Predators have had some level of interest in Cozens this season. But, much like the Flames and Flyers, they don’t have the necessary pieces that can help the Sabres right away. Echoing a relatively consistent theme, I was told that the Sabres are a “hard team to make a deal with” by one person close to the situation in Nashville.

So if the Sabres have drawn such a hard line in the sand, what team could make sense for Cozens?

This may seem out of left field, but I seriously wonder about the Minnesota Wild in all of this. They have been connected to New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (pending UFA) all season long, so we know that GM Bill Guerin is looking for an upgrade down the middle. Nelson is a rental, which is more ideal for the Wild, but as one person said to me, the Wild would be open to taking on a player with term if it made sense.

I can tell you this: the Wild like Cozens. It is a player that more than one person said to me makes sense for the Wild. The issue for Guerin (in the short term) is the salary cap and how to absorb a $7.1 million cap hit.

The Wild don’t project to have very much cap space ahead of the Trade Deadline. In the final years of the major buyout penalties (north of $14 million) to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild will finally have some flexibility beyond this season. Guerin and the Wild need to be wary of the looming extension for star forward Kirill Kaprizov, but the significant rise in the salary cap over the next three seasons will surely help with fitting it all in.

Do I think the Wild can make it work financially this season? I have my doubts. But one thing that makes me wonder about the Wild in regards to Cozens is a piece they have to offer: centerman Marco Rossi. The 2020 first-round draft pick has, despite a good season with the Wild, continued to be subject to trade rumors. According to more than one person I’ve spoken with, the Wild seem to have some trepidation to commit to Rossi on his next contract. Unlike the Flames, Flyers and Predators, the Wild have a young centerman to offer back in a deal for Cozens.

So what is the consistent theme in all of this? I can’t say for certain, but from what I’ve been able to deduce, unless the Sabres can pull a young, NHL ready pivot back as a return, they don’t have a heavy appetite to move Cozens. Could Cozens have be part of a deal if Adams were to swing a deal for Vancouver Canucks center Elias Petterson? I’d venture to guess so, but the consistent theme remains: a young center coming back to Buffalo.

Cozens is definitely generating a lot of trade chatter and calls Buffalo’s way, but Adams – who has said to be “gun shy” after the success of past players he has has moved out in recent years – seems firm on his asking price. As one person said to me, Cozens could end up being a draft day deal; time will tell whether or not something gets done within the next month.

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How close are the Sabres to trading Dylan Cozens?

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