NHL Rumors: Dylan Cozens Trade Talk Heating Up Once Again

As the Four Nations Faceoff approaches, trade chatter is picking up once again when it comes to Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens. Before the Holiday Trade Freeze in December, Cozens’s name was out there, and it appeared that he could have been traded before that deadline.

As RG has reported, the Sabres and Nashville Predators discussed Cozens and the actual price they would pay if they made a trade. Momentum was building towards a trade before the Holiday Trade Freeze.

Ultimately, the Sabres did not pull the trigger on a trade as they were hesitant to move him because of the former players who have moved on from Buffalo and had success. However, Cozens is a prized commodity on the trade market.

Cozens is 23 years old and one of the better young centers in the league. The seventh overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft is in the midst of a seven-year contract worth $49.7 million that carries an AAV of $7.1 million.

In 53 games with the Sabres this season, he has 26 points (10 goals and 16 assists). For his career, he has 192 points (76 goals and 116 assists) in 333 games.

There are several teams that are looking for an age-appropriate center, including the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and now the Montreal Canadiens. Of course, other teams can enter the mix.

We know the Predators were setting up something big after they traded defenseman Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens in order to create more cap space to utilize moving forward. As a source told RG, “they are clearing cap space for something. It may not be for right now, but it’s coming.” 

Again, General Manager Barry Trotz wanted to change his mix and plan ahead for next season. But again, the trade pieces had to be right, as he wanted to improve his team. As Full Press Hockey reported prior to the freeze, the Predators and Sabres were close to making a deal, but they could not get across the finish line.

Calgary Flames: Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy Still Wants To Add That Right Shot Center

Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver Canucks Have a Tough Decision to Make with Brock Boeser

New Jersey Devils: J.T. Miller Does Not Fit What the New Jersey Devils Are Building

It is just not the Predators in on the mix; so are the Flames, who have been looking for an age-appropriate center since the beginning of the season. Even after acquiring Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost from the Philadelphia Flyers, Flames GM Craig Conroy is still looking for that right-shot center. He could move a first-round pick for the right player. Cozens could be that guy. Will one of their centers head to Buffalo?

As Kevin Weekes reported, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are now in the mix with the Detroit Red Wings. Not to mention the Vancouver Canucks. And for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to move a player like Cozens, he will need a similar player in return.

That is why if the Sabres were to trade Cozens to the Canucks, a trade package would have to include Elias Pettersson. That is the type of player the Sabres would want. The price would be higher inside their own division, as they said they were to trade with Montreal and Toronto. The Canadiens might have to give up a player like Kirby Dach or Alex Newhook.

Not to mention, would President Jeff Gorton or GM Kent Hughes want to take on the full $7.1 million over the next five seasons? Even with a rising salary cap, the extensions for Juraj Slafkovaksy and Kaiden Guhle kick this July 1st. It would be a hefty risk.

So, if a team wants Cozens, it will cost them a hefty package, especially in the Sabres division. But he is having a down year, but the Sabes want something similar in return. So it makes sense that if he goes out west that way, the Sabres can avoid seeing him as they try to get back to the playoffs.

As we inch closer to the “soft” deadline of the Four Nations Faceoff and then the NHL Tade Deadline on March 7th, there will be continued talk surrounding Dylan Cozens.