The Sabres have a Dylan Cozens problem
Sneaky Joe takes a deep dive into what has happened with Dylan Cozens in the last twelve months, as he’s gone from a dynamite second line center, to a player lost at sea in one year. What are the major differences between Cozens two years ago and Cozens in the last year?
Plus, Jack Quinn coming out of the Sabres lineup for Jiri Kulich, and a preview of Sabres-Blue Jackets.
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27 Comments
Sell the team Terry!
Cozens plays undiscipline hockey. He plays pond hockey. Doesn't think to steps ahead. For sure he's the opposite of Gretzky's theory of " go to where the puck will be, not where it is or was" That is not Cozens at all. That is why he is a net negative on the ice without the puck.
Offensively, he just can't score. he is getting chances, but not putting them away. It seems the 30 goal season (where he shot 14%) is an anomoly. The entire rest of his career he is a less than 10% shooter.
He has always been undiscipline defensively. In his 5th year, and closing in on 300 games, I don't see how that changes. But is he a 15% shooter? or an 8% shooter? If he actually is an 8% shooter, and gets 200-220 shots a year….then yeah..that $7m a year contract is a problem.
He is looking more and more like the forward version of Riston…looks talented, every coach puts him out there thinking they can 'get him to click', but it just doesn't happen.
Yeah Tage at least is worth 7 million. The let down is we thought that was a steal and he was worth like 13 million but he's the least of their problems
The workhouse from whitehorse?!… more like a pony! I got to witness that brutal turnover last night right in front of me. The sabres definitely have a dylan problem!
The thing I noticed about Cozens is the fact that he has all but disappeared after he got his face smashed last year. He hasn’t been the same player since that happened!
Take a shot every time Joe looks into the camera. You will never take a shot
Dylan Freakin' Cozens
Give 2C spot to Kulich, give him Benson as LW, Quinn as RW and lets see what he´s made of!
Say what you will about the Bjs and Blackhawks being bad, I can see the sabres finishing lower than them this season
I'm at the game tonight in Columbus. Hoping to see the Sabres first power play goal of the year.
Joe, I have to take issue with your take on Cozens. This smells of your UPL take from early last year. If you look at the advanced stats, and I'm just looking at Expected Goals For % (I don't have a subscription to Evolving Hockey, so I can't access WAR), he was at 52.67% (in all situations) in each of the last two full seasons (weird it was the same), which means he is on the ice for more expected goals for than against. In the 2023-24 season, which we all acknowledge was a down year for Cozens, that percentage placed him at 68th among all centermen, out of 150 (who played at least 800 minutes). That's above average overall (but granted, not great from your 2nd line Center). Nonetheless, how can you call that player "garbage?"
If you want to look at it from a salary cap perspective, he has the 52nd highest cap hit among centers, so yes, the pay doesn't quite match the performance (52nd vs 68th). And this year his GF% after 5 games (44.89%) is lower than historical full season averages and will certainly come back up.
But when I hear phrases like "untradeable" and "garbage," I just want a reality check.
Thursday night ** 1:12
I think he cares too much about all the chatter off the ice, the $ signs, and expectations. Too much rattling around in his kitchen. Just needs to play hockey and stop over-trying. Then as he gets to the bench he blows up; okay a couple of times, horrible when it is happening all the time. I agree with Joe, bad energy is showing on the bench and on the ice. Frustrating to coach someone who is giving great effort but it only leads to more compounded mistakes, because they are trying too hard. Much like needing to hit a great shot on the links, the harder you try the worse the outcome. Needs to figure out how to play freer.
Cozens has to sit. Replace him with Kulich for a game or two and see what it looks like… Swap him with McLeod. Hell, Krebs would even be better. Hes just not a good player, right now, and IMO he’s actually hurting us…
Girgensons 2.0
He is getting sloppy and non physical. He has caused some serious defensive mistakes.
GM negotiated long term contracts w the thought of player growth on this roster but on second thought shorter term with lower annual. Powers same situation. Benson playing less minutes should have been sent down to Rochester to develop, and played in world juniors last year
When you thought we couldn’t get any worse… A really disappointing start to the season. Not trading that 1st round pick and Krebs plus a prospect for a better top six forward seems like a great idea… This new 3rd line is what suppose to carry us to the playoffs? Insane…
I have a different take on Cozens. You are so wrong about confidence. Just because you are a professional sports athlete does not mean you won't struggle with confidence issues. Cozens is obviously in his head. Ruff seriously has to think about sitting him for at least one game maybe more and get his head right. Dylan has the talent and an NHL shot he can score there is no doubt. But mental problems are real. He needs to settle down and just not put so much pressure on himself. In fact it's probably the fact he is getting a boat load of money and not producing that is bothering him. So no don't give up on Cozens he needs some mentoring and Seth Appert is very good at mentoring.
Cozens, dahlin, power all slow on the start. They will be fine.
Simply puck luck in 22/23
It’s more a Skinny problem. How tf I’m still with Roam idk? Lol. Ffs can we just see the elephant in the room? The owner sucks. Kim getting my name wrong on my coffee cup. Im fucking done watching this Metal as fuck franchise go to this Cinderella bill shit. It’s fucking gutting coming in from the West.
Put Cozens on wing and move Krebs up and see what happens
Maybe he's out of position being a 2C put thim on the wing.
He scored in a year when Granato had them playing zero defense…..they all had inflated scoring stats…
We are the BAD team, this is brutal 😢
This sux for Sabres fans, but we should be used to this by now. Nothing will change as long as Terry Pegula owns this team. They are the joke of the NHL. Theres a reason why EVERY ex-Sabre get bettter the second they're off this team. Its because this organization is a dumpster fire and it always will be. 👍👍