The Sabres are discovering methods to hit new lows. On the tail of a 14-year playoff drought, the staff is in the course of a 13-game dropping streak. They’ve been outscored 54-to-28 and outshot 378-to-355 alongside the way in which — reigniting the all-too-common dialog of which Sabres ahead could also be accountable. 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 ultimately yr’s commerce deadline after a 7-6-0 document the place three wins required additional time. This time round, it’s Dylan Cozens being pulled into the highlight, however transferring him out received’t be the piece to unravel Buffalo’s skid.
The the reason why an enormous transfer doubtless received’t be the repair are convoluted however not sophisticated. Buffalo has scored the fewest (2.15) and allowed probably the most (4.08) targets per sport because the begin of their dropping streak on Nov. 27. That’s partly because of 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 targets (9) of any Sabres ahead, behind solely Jason Zucker (10). He’s confirmed capable of step up and make an affect when the items round him are quiet, serving to him keep a proud function as Buffalo’s second-line heart.
Cozens sustaining his top-six function ought to be sufficient incentive to carry onto him — in spite of everything, no different Sabres are incomes the second-line function. However even when Buffalo thought now was the most effective time to promote their 23-year-old, top-six centerman able to scoring 20 targets and enjoying 20 minutes — the commerce marketplace for younger forwards has been brutally harsh this yr. Not even prior draft precedent can generate vital 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.
You need 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 probability 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 sizzling 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 significantly better outcomes defensively. However his mark on the top-six wouldn’t counteract the depleted depth behind him until considered one of Kulich, Tyson Kozak, or Sam Lafferty all of a sudden 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 targets and 68 factors on the age of 21. That yr stands as a flash within the pan now, however it’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 profitable 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 protracted skid, their sights are once more skilled on the second-line heart. 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 previous methods and eventually discover a new strategy to shake up their floundering roster.
