The Cozens Conundrum, 2024-25

[Pimlach]

18 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I've been watching Cozens lately to try to figure him out. I think ultimately his decision making is too slow. Whether he's hesitating out of a lack of confidence or he just thinks slow is hard to say but when he gets the puck he doesn't react and act instinctively, there's delays and pauses and it allows him to be defended easily. 

I think he could thrive on a slower more structured type of team but he might just be incapable of playing well in this sort of up tempo type of thing we seem to want to do in Buffalo. the cliche "not a good fit" would seem to apply. So unless we change our style (unlikely) it's probably best to trade him. 

So Ruff is playing the same style as Granato?  Is that what you see?  I don’t see that.  

I do see that Cozens is thinking and is not an instinctive player right now.  I see that he takes on a lot, and that pressure is a problem for him.    He can read and hear the news - the expectations for 7 years and $7 million.   Then he gets a A.  The team disappoints, he disappoints, and everything gets worse. 

For Dylan Cozens (and several other young Sabres), the failure of Kevyn Adams’ flawed rebuild is proving to be too much, too soon.  Judging his current game Cozens is a 3rd line winger with a 2nd line ceiling, yet he is playing 1C, 2C, and on PP2.   That is the way the roster is constructed.  

He will get blamed, and traded, and he will eventually have a good career somewhere else.  

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, Pimlach said:

So Ruff is playing the same style as Granato?  Is that what you see?  I don’t see that.  

I do see that Cozens is thinking and is not an instinctive player right now.  I see that he takes on a lot, and that pressure is a problem for him.    He can read and hear the news - the expectations for 7 years and $7 million.   Then he gets a A.  The team disappoints, he disappoints, and everything gets worse. 

For Dylan Cozens (and several other young Sabres), the failure of Kevyn Adams’ flawed rebuild is proving to be too much, too soon.  Judging his current game Cozens is a 3rd line winger with a 2nd line ceiling, yet he is playing 1C, 2C, and on PP2.   That is the way the roster is constructed.  

He will get blamed, and traded, and he will eventually have a good career somewhere else.  

I believe that wing is the best spot for him. He lacks the instinctiveness (my opinion) to play to his best level as a second-line center.  He has thrived in the international tournaments playing wing with quality centers. As you point, it is evident that his play and development have been crimped by the stress he is placing on himself. 

My fear is if dealt he will thrive with a team/organization that has a clue as to how to put players in position to grow and succeed. The situation in Buffalo is too dysfunctional for talented players to develop as well as they should. The owner by his irrational hires and tinkering has destroyed this once proud franchise and has severely eroded this once flourishing fanbase to the point of submission. Terry Pegula is the Danny Snyder of hockey without the sleazy personal behavior. This silent and clueless billionaire lacks the self-awareness to recognize what he has done. 

[Stoner]

Is anyone not concerned for his health? Do you not see him whiffing on shots?

[mjd1001]

I do think he can be acceptable at wing.  Take him off the PP and PK, give him 2nd or 3rd line wing minutes, make sure you put him with a Center who is good at carrying the puck into the zone. By doing all those things, you don't put Cozens in any situation he's not good at.   You aren't going to get a player this is worth $7m per year, but you might get a winger who scores, on average 20-25 goals and doesn't hurt you away from the puck as much as he does at Center.  You are getting a $5m player, but paying for a $7m one...but at least he won't be hurting you.

There is someone in this organization that will not allow that move to happen. Someone here wants him at Center, on PP and PK, and on the ice at the end of games.  Is it every coach he's ever had? Is it Adams? Is it Pegula?  I don't know. All I am convince of now is that the move to wing and off the PP is not happening in this organization.

The best thing for him, and the Sabres, is to move him and let him have that opportunity someplace else. 

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

So Ruff is playing the same style as Granato?  Is that what you see?  I don’t see that.  

I do see that Cozens is thinking and is not an instinctive player right now.  I see that he takes on a lot, and that pressure is a problem for him.    He can read and hear the news - the expectations for 7 years and $7 million.   Then he gets a A.  The team disappoints, he disappoints, and everything gets worse. 

For Dylan Cozens (and several other young Sabres), the failure of Kevyn Adams’ flawed rebuild is proving to be too much, too soon.  Judging his current game Cozens is a 3rd line winger with a 2nd line ceiling, yet he is playing 1C, 2C, and on PP2.   That is the way the roster is constructed.  

He will get blamed, and traded, and he will eventually have a good career somewhere else.  

I didn't say they play the same style. Not sure where you got that from but doesn't matter.

The hesitation in Cozens is definitely there and I said we can argue over the cause but he's hesitating all the same. Maybe another element is too many development years under Granato and he is having trouble doing X after years of Y type thing. That could be part of it. 

There's absolutely no question we have mismanaged assets and developed young players poorly. Always too much too soon and we "break" many of them and then somebody else fixes some of them after we ditch them or they move on. Lack of veteran leadership, constant changes, it's a mess. The young players we have should be better than they are. 

[Rhyno716]

Cozens needs to move to wing asap. When he plays in the world championships he always plays wing and he plays great. He never developed a complete game to play center in the top 6. That's what happens when to don't properly develop prospects and rush them to the NHL. Tage has the same problems but at least he scores.

If I remember correctly Reinhart struggled at center early in his career before moving to wing and then in 2021 he needed to go back to center because they had nobody left and he finally excelled due to his development.

[LGR4GM]

Last 10 games

Ryan McLeod: 7g, 2a, +8

Dylan Cozens: 1g, 4a, +2

 

Full season

Ryan McLeod: 52gp, 14g, 16a, +13

Dylan Cozens: 55gp, 11g, 16a, -16

[mjd1001]

18 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Last 10 games

Ryan McLeod: 7g, 2a, +8

Dylan Cozens: 1g, 4a, +2

 

Full season

Ryan McLeod: 52gp, 14g, 16a, +13

Dylan Cozens: 55gp, 11g, 16a, -16

McLeod is clearly the better overall player now.  And he does have nice hands on some of his goals. I'd like to experiment and see McLeod take Cozens spot on the Powerplay, see how it goes.

Overall, Cozens hasn't been that  'bad' to me the last 5-10 games.  Now, is that because we don't notice the bad plays because we are happy with winning 5 of the last 6? or is the fact they have won 5 of the last 6 in large part because he's not making as many dumb plays?

Last night, for one game, Cozens underlying metrics/analytics were REALLY good....was that a function of him just playing with a motivated Greenway on his line?

The Nashville game, he played with Krebs, and Cozens looked to play some wing with Krebs often patrolling the center of the ice, and their metrics were also really good.

Most of the previous 4-5 games before that, Cozens was centering Zucker and Tuch, and some games the analytics were good, some games they weren't.

Maybe, MAYBE his play without the puck is turning the corner?  That would be a start of something, but at the same time, does him playing better without the puck mean his offense goes away?

I mentioned his underlying defensive analytics and his play without the puck show a  definite improvement over the last 10 games. But at the same time, is offense has basically vanished.  Is it a choice where he gives you one or the other.... but not both?  

Edited February 23 by mjd1001

[Sidc3000]

On 1/26/2025 at 1:24 PM, Pimlach said:

He will get blamed, and traded, and he will eventually have a good career somewhere else.  

I honestly don’t think Adams will trade him for fear of him blossoming somewhere else. 

[ska-T Palmtown]

On 1/26/2025 at 12:39 PM, JohnC said:

I believe that wing is the best spot for him. He lacks the instinctiveness (my opinion) to play to his best level as a second-line center.  He has thrived in the international tournaments playing wing with quality centers. As you point, it is evident that his play and development have been crimped by the stress he is placing on himself. 

My fear is if dealt he will thrive with a team/organization that has a clue as to how to put players in position to grow and succeed. The situation in Buffalo is too dysfunctional for talented players to develop as well as they should. The owner by his irrational hires and tinkering has destroyed this once proud franchise and has severely eroded this once flourishing fanbase to the point of submission. Terry Pegula is the Danny Snyder of hockey without the sleazy personal behavior. This silent and clueless billionaire lacks the self-awareness to recognize what he has done. 

To the bold ... so? Would you rather have him here, floundering in a situation that is not right for him and dragging the team down, or move on and try to make the team better? 

Far more successful organizations that this one have moved on from far better players than Cozens when their performance was not what it needed to be.

For the record, I blame the contract for part of it - putting too much pressure on himself. If I recall correctly, Ryan Miller used a sports psychologist at points in his career ... maybe Ryan could share the number? Or perhaps Rasmus could earn that "C" on his chest and tell Dylan that story about when he (Ras) realized he needed to stop playing the game for other people and just go out be the best Dahlin he could be.

[JohnC]

17 minutes ago, ska-T Palmtown said:

To the bold ... so? Would you rather have him here, floundering in a situation that is not right for him and dragging the team down, or move on and try to make the team better? 

Far more successful organizations that this one have moved on from far better players than Cozens when their performance was not what it needed to be.

For the record, I blame the contract for part of it - putting too much pressure on himself. If I recall correctly, Ryan Miller used a sports psychologist at points in his career ... maybe Ryan could share the number? Or perhaps Rasmus could earn that "C" on his chest and tell Dylan that story about when he (Ras) realized he needed to stop playing the game for other people and just go out be the best Dahlin he could be.

As I have stated in other posts, Cozens is being mishandled. He should be playing wing instead of center. In the international tournaments, when placed on wing with talented centers, he has thrived.  

You make an excellent point and observation that Cozens is putting too much pressure on himself. You can see it in his play and reactions to mishaps. My recommendation is to put him on wing where there is more basic play and less thinking.

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, JohnC said:

As I have stated in other posts, Cozens is being mishandled. He should be playing wing instead of center. In the international tournaments, when placed on wing with talented centers, he has thrived.  

You make an excellent point and observation that Cozens is putting too much pressure on himself. You can see it in his play and reactions to mishaps. My recommendation is to put him on wing where there is more basic play and less thinking.

But we don't have a center to lift him up. Maybe if you get lucky and win the lottery you can get Misa but even still that's 2yrs away. 

[mjd1001]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

But we don't have a center to lift him up. Maybe if you get lucky and win the lottery you can get Misa but even still that's 2yrs away. 

Stick Cozens with Krebs as his center, 3rd line minutes, 16-17 minutes per game. Its close to what he is getting already.  And, although their ice time this season has been limited, Cozens and Krebs had pretty good numbers together a couple games ago when they were linemates (I think Cozens actually did play mostly wing with Krebs at center that game.)

Edited February 23 by mjd1001

[JohnC]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

But we don't have a center to lift him up. Maybe if you get lucky and win the lottery you can get Misa but even still that's 2yrs away. 

I agree with you that we don't currently have the center to properly place Cozens. That's one of the reasons why I had reservations about the Mitts deal. (However, I do like Byram.) Our roster is miscast. My recommendation would be to deal Byram plus assets (draft picks and prospects) and get the caliber of center to move Cozens to the wing. How do you do that when your GM is a dullard and lacks the imagination to make such a deal? 

[Night Train]

23 hours ago, JohnC said:

I agree with you that we don't currently have the center to properly place Cozens. That's one of the reasons why I had reservations about the Mitts deal. (However, I do like Byram.) Our roster is miscast. My recommendation would be to deal Byram plus assets (draft picks and prospects) and get the caliber of center to move Cozens to the wing. How do you do that when your GM is a dullard and lacks the imagination to make such a deal? 

Deal Byram ?  No. Deal Muel and/or Power and their horrid contracts. Cozens also if it can get a good return. Mitts has scored 3 goals in his last 50 games and is a -13 in Colorado. Sabres received a good player in return. Pay him . 

[LGR4GM]

23 hours ago, JohnC said:

I agree with you that we don't currently have the center to properly place Cozens. That's one of the reasons why I had reservations about the Mitts deal. (However, I do like Byram.) Our roster is miscast. My recommendation would be to deal Byram plus assets (draft picks and prospects) and get the caliber of center to move Cozens to the wing. How do you do that when your GM is a dullard and lacks the imagination to make such a deal? 

I'm sorry but if Cozens needs us to trade Byram and whatever else so we can get a center that will lift Cozens out of the analytics gutter... the problem is Cozens. 

Buffalo can keep Cozens, that's fine but they certainly should not be making trades with the idea of "how do we help Cozens" at the forefront. 

[mjd1001]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I'm sorry but if Cozens needs us to trade Byram and whatever else so we can get a center that will lift Cozens out of the analytics gutter... the problem is Cozens. 

Buffalo can keep Cozens, that's fine but they certainly should not be making trades with the idea of "how do we help Cozens" at the forefront. 

Another thing about Cozens that would be a good reason for him to move to wing.  Quinn.

As a Center, the 'eye test' tells some of us that once Cozens gets the puck in the slot, he is shooting it.  He either doesn't have the vision, or the willingness to pass up a shot to find a better/open teammate.

One positive number in his analytics this year and in previous years is he takes a lot of shots from prime scoring areas (high danger areas). That can be a good thing, meaning he is going to those areas, but it can also be a bad thing...he's a black hole..once the puck goes into those areas with him, it never comes back out.  He takes shots from those areas...even if it means they are shots the goalie is ready for and lead to easy saves, or he shoots them into the shins of the guy right in front of him. If Cozens is in what is considered a 'high danger chance' zone, Cozens takes that shot, regardless of whether it is, in reality, a good shot to take.

So why is that bad for Quinn?  Quinn is a better shooter. Sniper? I'm not sure if I would go that far yet, but this year Quinn is shooting 4.3% more than Cozens this year. For their careers, Cozens has shot at 9% or under 4 of his 5 seasons.  Quinn is at least 11% every year, and 2 years over 16%.  For Quinn's sake, I want a center that is going to get him the puck more. I want a center that will shoot less and set him up more than Cozens does.

Just move Cozens to wing already if he isn't going to be traded.  It's not only what is probably best for him and suits his game better, but there is likely a knock-off impact that will help 2-3 other players on the team at the same time.  Whoever gets Cozens as a winger might get the benefit of a hard skating, good forchecking winger that they didn't have, and whoever Cozens wingers used to be will get a center that might be able to distribute to them better.  You can potentially improve 2-3 different players on the roster without making a single trade.

Edited February 24 by mjd1001

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, Night Train said:

Deal Byram ?  No. Deal Muel and/or Power and their horrid contracts. Cozens also if it can get a good return. Mitts has scored 3 goals in his last 50 games and is a -13 in Colorado. Sabres received a good player in return. Pay him . 

As far as dealing Power: Absolutely not!

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I'm sorry but if Cozens needs us to trade Byram and whatever else so we can get a center that will lift Cozens out of the analytics gutter... the problem is Cozens. 

Buffalo can keep Cozens, that's fine but they certainly should not be making trades with the idea of "how do we help Cozens" at the forefront. 

The more central issue is more focused on getting a legitimate 2C than putting Cozens on wing where he is more suited (my opinion). Would dealing Byram for that 2C be worth the exchange? Maybe or maybe not? As I said in prior posts, I do like the play of Byram and his pairing with Dahlin. But a top second line center also is a need. And to get that caliber of player it would require a Byram type talent to get such a deal done. 

[inkman]

6 hours ago, Night Train said:

Deal Byram ?  No. Deal Muel and/or Power and their horrid contracts. 

What exactly are the Sabres going to get for an oft injured stay at home defenseman incapable of staying healthy and a 6’6” kid who is 5 years away from being a good NHL defenseman getting paid like a top pair D?  

[inkman]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

As far as dealing Power: Absolutely not!

Trading Owen Power, who I like, right now is exactly the kind of move a GM makes if he’s trying to win now.  Holding onto him and waiting for him to reach his potential is what a GM that has an infinite timeline for success would do.  

[LGR4GM]

38 minutes ago, inkman said:

What exactly are the Sabres going to get for an oft injured stay at home defenseman incapable of staying healthy and a 6’6” kid who is 5 years away from being a good NHL defenseman getting paid like a top pair D?  

Gms love tall defenders

[DarthEbriate]

2 hours ago, inkman said:

Trading Owen Power, who I like, right now is exactly the kind of move a GM makes if he’s trying to win now.  Holding onto him and waiting for him to reach his potential is what a GM that has an infinite timeline for success would do.  

Everything we've seen from this particular owner-GM combination is that the timeline is infinite and success is a relative term.

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

As far as dealing Power: Absolutely not!

You're a last place team, for the right price ANYBODY is tradeable. 

[JohnC]

6 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

You're a last place team, for the right price ANYBODY is tradeable. 

No! Not for me. Power stays. It's time to add talent and not subtract it. We traded Eichel and Reinhart. The return didn't come close to what was sent out. And to be perfectly candid, I don't want our current GM to make a deal this season. He's in a weak position that can be exploited.