Confirmed deal : Rumour Alert Toronto Maple Leafs Are Considering a Trade for Dylan Cozens

 

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in acquiring Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens, according to NHL Insider Kevin Weekes,

It’s no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in desperate need of a centre at the NHL Trade Deadline this year. They have been linked to multiple other names but the latest one is Dylan Cozens. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Cozens has a big frame and has shown an ability to find the back of the net.

 

 

 

Currently in his fifth NHL season, Cozens had a breakout year in 2022-23 scoring 31 goals and registering 68 points on a bysmal Buffalo Sabres team. The Sabres are arguably the worst franchise in the NHL right now, having missed the playoffs since 2011 with no signs of making it again this year.

The one issue with Cozens throughout his career is that he’s been inconsistent. As mentioned, he had that one great year in 2022-23, but other than that he’s just been okay. Cozens has been below 20 goals every other year and is on pace to do the same thing this year.

However, it’s quite possible that Cozens is just another example of a big fish swimming in the wrong pond. At one point, the Sabres had Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart all on the same roster, but traded all three them before they hit their peak. The same thing happened Linus Ullmark, who should be the team’s number-one goalie right now

 

 

If the Sabres had kept those players, while continuing to draft and develop prospects like Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and JJ Peterka, we may be looking at this organization quite differently, but unfortunately they’ve become the laughing stock of the NHL.

With multiple examples of players finding success and winning Stanley Cup’s immediately after they leave Buffalo, Cozens may be the latest player to do the same and the Leafs could be willing to pay a premium price to acquire him.

As much as Cozens’ $7.1M contract is scary, it’s actually a positive because he’s on term until 2030, and with the cap going way up it’s got a chance to be a very team-friendly deal, should Cozens hit his potential