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

[thewookie1]

Just now, Crusader1969 said:

From Ottawa Sun writing about Bernard Docker as he is near return from injury 

"

Assessing Bernard-Docker’s Trade Value

Here are Bernard-Docker’s strengths: he has good size, he competes hard, and he won’t make those “tried to do too much” mistakes. His biggest standout ability is his shot-blocking. He led the Senators with 156 blocked shots last season. Even more impressive is that he averaged 8.3 blocked shots per 60 minutes last season. That ranked fifth in the NHL among regular skaters.

Let’s face it, he plays a simple game and doesn’t stand out a whole lot."

 

I guess he's not bad and potentially a possible partner for Power

[inkman]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

eh, hes fine?

Is he fine or is he fiiiiinnnneee? 

[rickshaw]

Have the people who cover hockey not watched cozens play since “the fight?”

Saying he’s a physical presence, tough, can drop the mitts? Omg are they in for a treat.

[DarthEbriate]

JBD is a 6-0 190# RHD who is a defensive +/- stud in the AHL and 3rd pairing guy in the NHL. 24 years old, pending RFA, and currently on LTIR with a high-ankle sprain suffered in January 2025.

The RHD equivalent of Ryan Johnson?

[mjd1001]

12 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Norris can finish, we have a lot of guys that can create

I don't know if I'd go THAT far to say we have a lot of guys that can create.

On the other hand, you don't always need to 'create' from the center position.  He could be someone what meshes well and finishes what Dahlin creates from the blue-line.

 

[Archie Lee]

Jamie McLellan throwing shade on Ruff.  Saying he thinks Cozens will be programmable and be able to play better in a good system.

[mjd1001]

5 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Assessing Bernard-Docker’s Trade Value

Here are Bernard-Docker’s strengths: he has good size, he competes hard, and he won’t make those “tried to do too much” mistakes. His biggest standout ability is his shot-blocking. He led the Senators with 156 blocked shots last season. Even more impressive is that he averaged 8.3 blocked shots per 60 minutes last season. That ranked fifth in the NHL among regular skaters.

Let’s face it, he plays a simple game and doesn’t stand out a whole lot."

"Bernard-Docker was more valuable last season with the likes of Erik Brannstrom and Jakob Chychrun involved as offensive-minded d-men,"

Well, his deal is up but he is restricted and not looking to be a high priced guy.

If he can play some games with the Sabres, it can basically be a couple month try-out to see if he meshes well with someone.

[dudacek]

19 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Here is where the other potential deals involving Cozens, Detroit and Vancouver nixed them 

Cozens for Marco Kasper

Cozens/Byram/ plus for Elias Pettersson 

Am I correct in reading this that the Sabres had decided they needed to move on from Cozens and were shopping him?

Even though both the eye test and the analytics were crying for it, that seems unusually bold for Adams.

[thewookie1]

Hockey Reference has Norris having good analytics and playing far more of a defensively heavy role

[elijah]

4 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

I guess he's not bad and potentially a possible partner for Power

if the plan for JBD is to be a Power pair for any longer than the remainder of this season i’ll be deeply concerned 

not surprised considering adam’s history of trying to force a 5/6 defensemen into a top 4 role, but definitely concerned 

[LGR4GM]

Bernard-Docker is a 2nd/3rd pair defender. I would lean towards 3rd pair with maybe some decent PK skills? Unsure on that. 

[dudacek]

3 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

JBD is a 6-0 190# RHD who is a defensive +/- stud in the AHL and 3rd pairing guy in the NHL. 24 years old, pending RFA, and currently on LTIR with a high-ankle sprain suffered in January 2025.

The RHD equivalent of Ryan Johnson?

Looks to me like he's what Clifton never materialized as.

Pretty much the textbook concept of what a stay-at-home #5 RHD should be

[Warriorspikes51]

Looks good for us

[mjd1001]

Just now, elijah said:

if the plan for JBD is to be a Power pair for any longer than the remainder of this season i’ll be deeply concerned 

not surprised considering adam’s history of trying to force a 5/6 defensemen into a top 4 role, but definitely concerned 

From the little I have read about JBD....he seems to be at best a 5/6.  He could be one of those guys that, if he sticks around for 2-3 years...once he gets into his late 20's could be a 'sneaky' 2nd pair guy with a decent, but not exceptional, all around game.

[Archie Lee]

Maybe the big benefit of this is that Norris is an actual centre.

[SabresVet]

Funny how a GM who signed Cozens to a big contract now has to unload him and gets to negotiate the return.  

If only the Sabres were a real organization that held GM's accountable.   

 

 

[matter2003]

6 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I don't know if I'd go THAT far to say we have a lot of guys that can create.

On the other hand, you don't always need to 'create' from the center position.  He could be someone what meshes well and finishes what Dahlin creates from the blue-line.

 

We have scored the most goals per game over the last 30 games in the entire NHL at 3.43 and are 8th overall this season at 3.18(fractionally away from top 5).  How are they scoring all these goals if nobody is creating them?  SOMEONE has to be creating them.  

[Rasmus_]

Look at all the graphics you want, this is a reactionary trade, made by a GM who has no clue, and is further sinking the Sabres into a downard cycle.  Come June, we'll all be calling for Adams head.  Norris doesn't move the needle and defensively he's worse.  If availability is the name of the game, you worsened your team. Bernard Docker is a bust, and nothing of note. 

[That Aud Smell]

If Cozens can get his swagger back, I think the Senators will end up pleased with this deal.

I share the view that Cozens' problems are mostly between his ears. And who knows - maybe Captain America can embiggen him with courage.

I'd like to say I wish him well. But my feelings don't extend quite that far.

[Brawndo]

His response 

 

[mjd1001]

7 minutes ago, rickshaw said:

Have the people who cover hockey not watched cozens play since “the fight?”

Saying he’s a physical presence, tough, can drop the mitts? Omg are they in for a treat.

I think people in Ottawa, and the Canadian 'experts' are doing what most people do when they don't get to see a player play ever single game.

They look at the stats, they look at the 'best year' as a ceiling that can be reached again, and they look at what the draft profile was of the player.

What they don't see with Cozens, not because they don't know hockey but because they don't watch him every game....are all the little things he is so bad at.

Cozens around the league is known as a 31 goal scorer, top 10 pick, 6'3" tall guy who throws checks into the corner, and a player 'stuck' on a bad team like the Sabres.  Initial evaluations of this trade are going to be Ottawa got a guy who is back on his way to be a star. Its not because its necessarily true, its because that is how fans and media view things.

[Thorner]

15 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Sabres have scored the most goals per game in the NHL over the last 30 games at 3.43 and are 8th overall this season at 3.18(fractionally away from being top 5).

Exactly who is creating these if all we have are finishers? Makes no sense...SOMEONE has to be creating them to be producing at that level.

Dahlin? 

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

1 minute ago, Archie Lee said:

Jamie McLellan throwing shade on Ruff.  Saying he thinks Cozens will be programmable and be able to play better in a good system.

Hah... Ruff knew Cozens was soft, Lord knows it was Ruff sending the message through all his contacts in the NHL that kid wasn't his type of player, hence 4 months of rumors that Cozens was on the block. I like this, it's a Lindy move and a message. Bye Bye the "Workhorse from Whitehorse" (always hated that Dunleavy line).

[That Aud Smell]

2 minutes ago, Rasmus_ said:

and defensively he's worse. 

this does not seem possible.

[Brawndo]

6 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Am I correct in reading this that the Sabres had decided they needed to move on from Cozens and were shopping him?

Even though both the eye test and the analytics were crying for it, that seems unusually bold for Adams.

Yes he has been available since the Summer