The Sabres are discovering methods to hit new lows. On the tail of a 14-year playoff drought, the staff is in the midst of a 13-game shedding streak. They’ve been outscored 54-to-28 and outshot 378-to-355 alongside the best way — reigniting the all-too-common dialog of which Sabres ahead could also be responsible. It’s a well-recognized spot for clinging Sabres followers, who noticed Ryan O’Reilly traded away after a 25-win season in 2017-18; Jack Eichel traded in 2021 after a 5-3-1 begin, and Casey Mittelstadt traded finally yr’s commerce deadline after a 7-6-0 document the place three wins required further time. This time round, it’s Dylan Cozens being pulled into the highlight, however transferring him out received’t be the piece to resolve Buffalo’s skid.
The the reason why a giant transfer doubtless received’t be the repair are convoluted however not difficult. Buffalo has scored the fewest (2.15) and allowed probably the most (4.08) objectives per sport because the begin of their shedding streak on Nov. 27. That’s partly due to a ahead group that’s largely unengaged. Solely 5 Sabres forwards have recorded 20 or extra hits because the begin of their skid. Of them, solely two have scored 5 or extra factors: Tage Thompson (seven factors and 21 hits) and Cozens (seven factors and 29 hits).
Coincidentally, Cozens has been on the ice for the second-most even-strength objectives (9) of any Sabres ahead, behind solely Jason Zucker (10). He’s confirmed capable of step up and make an influence when the items round him are quiet, serving to him keep a proud position as Buffalo’s second-line middle.
Cozens sustaining his top-six position must be sufficient incentive to carry onto him — in spite of everything, no different Sabres are incomes the second-line position. However even when Buffalo thought now was the most effective time to promote their 23-year-old, top-six centerman able to scoring 20 objectives and taking part in 20 minutes — the commerce marketplace for younger forwards has been brutally harsh this yr. Not even prior draft precedent can generate important returns, with the Rangers solely receiving defender William Borgen and a handful of draft picks for 2019 second-overall decide Kaapo Kakko. Philip Tomasino, Lars Eller, and Vasily Podkolzin all returned even much less, netting solely mid-round draft picks.
It’s important to return to final season’s deadline to discover a notable forward-for-forward swap: when the Penguins sent star scorer
Jake Guentzel to Carolina for Michael Bunting and a litany of high prospects. Since then, solely Pierre-Luc Dubois’ move to Washington represents any notable return for middling forwards, sending goaltender Darcy Kuemper to Los Angeles. The chance of Cozens sparking a big-package deal or swaying a staff to maneuver on from their succesful starter is slim-to-non mid-season.
That’s to say buying and selling Cozens would do little extra for Buffalo than punt away an already-down yr with the hopes that they obtain sufficient draft capital to make it value it. The transfer might give rookie Jiri Kulich and scorching acquisition Ryan McLeod an opportunity at extra ice time. To his credit score, McLeod is tied with Cozens in scoring — every with 15 factors in 34 video games — and has posted a lot better outcomes defensively. However his mark on the top-six wouldn’t counteract the depleted depth behind him except considered one of Kulich, Tyson Kozak, or Sam Lafferty instantly discovered a brand new stride.
Extra importantly, transferring on from Cozens would imply transferring on from a former top-10 decide who, solely two seasons in the past, posted 31 objectives and 68 factors on the age of 21. That yr stands as a flash within the pan now, but it surely’s additionally Cozens’ present of energy when he’s a part of an offense that maintains their energy all through the season. With O’Reilly successful a Conn Smythe and Selke Trophy after his transfer, Eichel now a famous person in Vegas, and Mittelstadt thriving in Colorado’s top-six, the Sabres appear cursed to proceed transferring on from impactful forwards earlier than they discover their groove. Transport out Cozens on the second yr of an extremely team-friendly seven-year, $47.7M contract — with no remaining signing bonuses — dangers setting the Sabres as much as repeat their sins.
The Sabres want a change. They’ll’t win a hockey sport and have an excessive amount of expertise of their prospect pool to proceed as basement dwellers with Stanley Cup aspirations. However within the warmth of a chronic skid, their sights are once more skilled on the second-line middle. With every commerce of a high ahead, Buffalo strikes on from youthful and youthful gamers. Now’s an opportunity for the staff to not repeat the errors of their outdated methods and eventually discover a new strategy to shake up their floundering roster.
