The Calgary Flames remain very interested in star player of the Buffalo Sabres
FOLLOW US
Photo credit: NHLPA.com
The Sabres are pretty much all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but the Flames continue to push for a spot and are looking to bolster their lineup.
Despite acquiring Morgan Frost from the Flyers a week ago, the Flames have an eye for a secondary young center of the Buffalo Sabres.
Still just 23 years old, the 23-year-old had his ups and downs when signing a seven-year, $7.1 million AAV in 2023 with Buffalo, but a one-time No. 7 overall pick with 31 markers two years ago, he's a developing player.
Dylan Cozens has great size
Standing at 6'3" and 194 lbs, Cozens possesses size and a geographical connection, having played for WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes. Not to mention, a simply tremendous moniker: "The Workhorse out of Whitehorse."
With 10 markers and 26 points in 52 contests in this campaign, he's a player with a lot of room for improvement.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun recently mentioned that Calgary's interested in taking a run at Cozens, and how he'd fit with a lineup with Frost and Joel Farabee in tow.
«Despite being legitimately in a playoff race - Calgary absolutely has a chance to make the playoffs - they're not going to let their short-term goals affect the longer-term vision, which is this: Calgary won't go out and spend big assets on rental players,» LeBrun said. «If they do something else that's at least impactful, it's once again going to be a hockey trade like we saw last week.
«So, with that in mind, there's a name that, my understanding is, the Calgary Flames remain interested in despite the acquisition last week of Frost and Farabee, and that's Dylan Cozens in Buffalo. Now, the Flames have been enamored with him all year long.
«I don't know if they have the pieces to make a deal work with the Buffalo Sabres for a couple of reasons: One, I don't think Kevyn Adams in Buffalo is actually shopping Dylan Cozens. He's taking calls, because Buffalo's in last place and he has to take calls, but if he moves Dylan Cozens, who's signed to a long-term deal, I think it's going to have to be apples for apples and not just a futures deal.
«And listen, two thirds of the league has checked in with Buffalo on Dylan Cozens. He's obviously a name that's garnered a lot of attention. But he's a name that fits into what Calgary is planning long-term, a right-shot, young centre who's 23 years old, so whether or not they can actually get this conversation to go to another level remains to be seen but he would be a name that remains on Calgary's radar.»
«So, with that in mind, there's a name that, my understanding is, the Calgary Flames remain interested in despite the acquisition last week of Frost and Farabee, and that's Dylan Cozens in Buffalo. Now, the Flames have been enamored with him all year long.
«I don't know if they have the pieces to make a deal work with the Buffalo Sabres for a couple of reasons: One, I don't think Kevyn Adams in Buffalo is actually shopping Dylan Cozens. He's taking calls, because Buffalo's in last place and he has to take calls, but if he moves Dylan Cozens, who's signed to a long-term deal, I think it's going to have to be apples for apples and not just a futures deal.
«And listen, two thirds of the league has checked in with Buffalo on Dylan Cozens. He's obviously a name that's garnered a lot of attention. But he's a name that fits into what Calgary is planning long-term, a right-shot, young centre who's 23 years old, so whether or not they can actually get this conversation to go to another level remains to be seen but he would be a name that remains on Calgary's radar.»
With added center depth in the mix, the Flames' GM Craig Conroy in a statement yesterday mentioned Connor Zary will return from injury post 4 Nations Face-Off, and give them yet one more reinforcement.
In 332 NHL games since 2020-21, Cozens has collected 76 markers and 192 points for himself, and hasn't played a single Stanley Cup Playoff game, but did win gold for Canada at 2020's World Juniors.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 5 | 197 ANSWERS The Calgary Flames remain very interested in star player of the Buffalo Sabres Will the Flames manage to acquire Dylan Cozens? | ||
| Yes | 51 | 25.9 % |
| No | 146 | 74.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
