Sabres Trade Dylan Cozens/Dennis Gilbert and 2026 2nd Round Pick to Ottawa for Josh Norris and Bernard Docker

[Archie Lee]

And yet, Ottawa is 11-5 since the trade deadline and are on the cusp of potentially overtaking Florida for 3rd in the Atlantic.  This is clearly not because they acquired Cozens, but evidently (small sample sizes being what they are), the Senators have found a way to utilize him that hasn't tanked their season. 

[LGR4GM]

26 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Maybe this isn't as easy to see in young players as the armchair quarterbacks around here like to think.

No, it is. Some guys who are average though get better with time, that is harder to see. There's a lot of draftees that you can tell see the game better than others, Benson, Reinhart, and guys like that. 

[Doohickie]

17 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Reinhart

We saw it toward the end of his time in Buffalo, and since in Florida, but a lot of people were disappointed in his performance early on.

I think it would be easy to be disappointed in Benson's production as well, except that he passes the eye test with flying colors.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Doohickie said:

We saw it toward the end of his time in Buffalo, and since in Florida, but a lot of people were disappointed in his performance early on.

I think it would be easy to be disappointed in Benson's production as well, except that he passes the eye test with flying colors.

I think one of the issues we have as a fanbase is that we have constantly been feed a steady diet of 19-23yr old players. The production takes a little bit of time, which is what Ottawa is banking on with Cozens, and the overall ability to be consistent takes time. Krebs is a good example and a player I was guilty of dismissing. He's a solid 3rd line type of player and hopefully will maintain or get better at that. I don't think it is reasonable to be disappointed in Benson's production because he's 19 and if this was his rookie yr, no one would be blinking at his production. The disappointment comes from expectations not being met. Benson is a curious case because of his age and the way he plays hockey. No one wants to hear it anymore but we will have to be patient with Benson until he is 23or so and really hits his stride. 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Believer said:

If true, explains a lot.

Also indicates Adams doesn’t pay enough attention to player IQ when drafting.

Adams could have drafted Caulfield, Zegras, or Krebs ahead of Cozens.

Maybe Adams is dumb.

Cozens may still have a better career than all of the guys you named. 

Caulfield (drafted 12) was brought up slower, and is passing him in scoring, but Cozens is ahead of Zegras, and is far ahead of Krebs for that matter. 

Matt Boldy (drafted 15), who was also brought up slower, is the best forward drafted after Cozens IMO.  

Kaapo Kakko (taken 2nd) is behind Cozens.   Kirby Dach was taken 3rd and is far behind Cozens.  

The NHL draft is not a slam dunk but I think the Sabres completely screwed up Cozens development by rushing him in every aspect.  And now a "friend of a coach" tells someone that Cozens is dumb, but I think that it was Adams who was dumb.  

I too am a friend of a former Sabres coach, one who is still in the NHL, and he told me that the Sabres (Adams/Granato) were doing things wrong and that he feels sorry for any coach that replaces Granato because the kids are not developed right.  Here we are with Lindy scratching his head all season long.  

No blockers right?   What veteran 2C did Cozens beat out to earn his NHL minutes?   Maybe the Sabres brought Cozens up too fast and gave him too much responsibility too soon?   He was very young and given a 2C slot playing with 2 rookies in a "system" that did not teach defensive responsibility.  He was also given PP and PK time.  He was given an "A" when he was just 23 years old.    Boldy and Caulfield might be better players anyway but they stayed in college and extra year after the draft and they had a taste of AHL.  Cozens went straight from juniors to a terrible hockey program and had ZERO AHL games.  

I still think he can be salvaged into a good player in time, we shall see.  

What works better is a system that makes the prospects earn what they get.

I really like what Lindy did with Östlund who is being brought up at a much smarter pace.    

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

 

I really like what Lindy did with Östlund who is being brought up at a much smarter pace.    

I think putting Östlund on the 4th line is a waste. He would be perfectly fine on the 3rd and would actually have a chance to get points. 

[Pimlach]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

I think putting Östlund on the 4th line is a waste. He would be perfectly fine on the 3rd and would actually have a chance to get points. 

But you also said that Krebs has earned a chance on the 3rd line right?  

 

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

But you also said that Krebs has earned a chance on the 3rd line right?  

 

No, I said he had 3rd line production. I am more interested in seeing Östlund on the 3rd line than Krebs because I want to know if Östlund can be more than Krebs. Again, Krebs proved he can produce at a 3rd line rate and he got a lot better defensively, but I know what he will bring and the season is toast, so why not see how far away Östlund is? I think Östlund has earned a look with more talented linemates. 

Actually I said "He's a solid 3rd line type of player" so I should quote myself correctly. 

[Pimlach]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

No, I said he had 3rd line production. I am more interested in seeing Östlund on the 3rd line than Krebs because I want to know if Östlund can be more than Krebs. Again, Krebs proved he can produce at a 3rd line rate and he got a lot better defensively, but I know what he will bring and the season is toast, so why not see how far away Östlund is? I think Östlund has earned a look with more talented linemates. 

Ahhh. Thanks for clarifying.   

I do not see Östlund being hurt by his look, the PP2 time gave him some opportunity to show offensive skills.    I think this tells us that the Sabres already think he has more offensive upside than Krebs does.  Maybe if he gets more games they move him up a line now that he showed he plays with some awareness and poise? 

I recall seeing Savoie in his very short 1 game look and he did not want to possess the puck.   Östlund played with the bangers and showed no fear, so far. 

[Doohickie]

34 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

But you also said that Krebs has earned a chance on the 3rd line right? 

Krebs is a big boy.  He'd get over it if he were bumped down to 4C for a week or two.

[LGR4GM]

26 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Ahhh. Thanks for clarifying.   

I do not see Östlund being hurt by his look, the PP2 time gave him some opportunity to show offensive skills.    I think this tells us that the Sabres already think he has more offensive upside than Krebs does.  Maybe if he gets more games they move him up a line now that he showed he plays with some awareness and poise? 

I recall seeing Savoie in his very short 1 game look and he did not want to possess the puck.   Östlund played with the bangers and showed no fear, so far. 

I dont think it will hurt Östlund. He'll be fine. 

[Flashsabre]

[K-9]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I think putting Östlund on the 4th line is a waste. He would be perfectly fine on the 3rd and would actually have a chance to get points. 

Said that the moment he was brought up, so I resigned myself to just seeing how he is in other aspects and he has impressed. Particularly in terms of his hockey sense/awareness on the ice, which is critically important for a center especially. He already has a solid 200 foot game from what I’ve seen. The heater he was on with the Amerks was certainly no fluke, that’s for sure. 

[Doohickie]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

That's pretty incredible.

[Flashsabre]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

Said that the moment he was brought up, so I resigned myself to just seeing how he is in other aspects and he has impressed. Particularly in terms of his hockey sense/awareness on the ice, which is critically important for a center especially. He already has a solid 200 foot game from what I’ve seen. The heater he was on with the Amerks was certainly no fluke, that’s for sure. 

I’ve compared him to Aho. Very smart, very creative 200 foot centre that can be in the ice in any situation. If he could develop into Aho that would be incredible. A centre with hockey sense and playmaking skills on the Sabres, what a concept😁

[Palm Trees And Taxes]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

This has to truly sting so many in the media that crave just piling on the Sabres (and not saying we haven't earned a lot of it) but its nice to see us maybe win one once in awhile.

[dudacek]

48 minutes ago, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

This has to truly sting so many in the media that crave just piling on the Sabres (and not saying we haven't earned a lot of it) but its nice to see us maybe win one once in awhile.

But are they actually noticing?

The Athletic’s latest power rankings were cooing how the Senators got the “2023 Cozens” as Dylan was on a stretch of 1 goal and -7 in 11 games. It’s not surprising how many narratives get accepted at face value, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

Edited Tuesday at 06:56 PM by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

55 minutes ago, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

This has to truly sting so many in the media that crave just piling on the Sabres (and not saying we haven't earned a lot of it) but its nice to see us maybe win one once in awhile.

 

10 minutes ago, dudacek said:

But are they actually noticing?

The Athletic’s latest power rankings were cooing how the Senators got the “2023 Cozens” as Dylan was on a stretch of 1 goal and -7 in 11 games. It’s not surprising how many narratives get accepted at face value, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

The media post trade was laughable in their descriptions of Cozens. Without looking them up I think I saw talks of how he's a 60+ pt player, talk of him as a 1st line Center, LOTS of talk about him being a physical 2-way center. It was as though no one had watched him and just skimmed some old draft reports on him or something. 

[Brawndo]

You mean the same media that compared the McLeod-Savoie trade to the Martin Erat for Forberg deal?

[LGR4GM]

50 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

You mean the same media that compared the McLeod-Savoie trade to the Martin Erat for Forberg deal?

[Thorner]

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

But are they actually noticing?

The Athletic’s latest power rankings were cooing how the Senators got the “2023 Cozens” as Dylan was on a stretch of 1 goal and -7 in 11 games. It’s not surprising how many narratives get accepted at face value, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

It’s no different than leaving out the fact he had 5 assists in that time frame tbh 

everyone frames 

Edited Tuesday at 11:26 PM by Thorner

[dudacek]

4 hours ago, Thorner said:

It’s no different than leaving out the fact he had 5 assists in that time frame tbh 

everyone frames 

It is different, because my point still stands at 1 goal 5 assists and -7 and theirs still does not.

 

[Pimlach]

19 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

It didn’t take long for Cuzzy to level out either.  Part of the reason the Sabres are playing better is not carrying this on our 2nd line. 

[PromoTheRobot]

54 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

It didn’t take long for Cuzzy to level out either.  Part of the reason the Sabres are playing better is not carrying this on our 2nd line. 

And Bernard Docker. For a throw-in he's been a revelation at defense. He's smart and physical. Just what or backline needed. As for Norris, let him heal and see what we have next year.

[PromoTheRobot]

20 hours ago, K-9 said:

Said that the moment he was brought up, so I resigned myself to just seeing how he is in other aspects and he has impressed. Particularly in terms of his hockey sense/awareness on the ice, which is critically important for a center especially. He already has a solid 200 foot game from what I’ve seen. The heater he was on with the Amerks was certainly no fluke, that’s for sure. 

I can see the logic of Östlund with Malenstyn and Lafferty. Two physical players to stand up for the young rookie. And frankly, Östlund is doing well with them. No goals yet but he's acclimating to the NHL game. He shows great anticipation and puts the same effort into defense. The Sabres know he's a scorer. They just want to see how he handles this level.