Latest Suitor for Sabres' Dylan Cozens Revealed

Dylan Cozens' name has been front and center on the rumor mill this season as the Buffalo Sabres continue to sit in last place in the entire Eastern Conference (despite a surprising shootout win over the Conference-leading Washington Capitals Tuesday night).

Insider Elliotte Friedman reported around New Year's that the Detroit Red Wings and the Sabres were scouting each other with trade talks in mind. Friedman has since learned that Cozens was indeed the subject of the Red Wings' desire, as he noted in his 32 Thoughts column today.

A legitimate 2C has been something that Wings' boss man Steve Yzerman has been trying to acquire for some time now, and perhaps Cozens, a former 7th overall pick (2019 NHL Draft) is the answer.

Cozens has struggled for the last year and a half in Buffalo, after a breakout season in 2022-23 in which he registered 31 goals and 68 points. The 6'3" center, however, is using his size more and more, after recording a career-high 108 hits last season, and on pace to shatter that mark this year, with 81 hits already after 40 games.

So what could Detroit interest Buffalo with in a potential trade package for Cozens?

Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff suggests that the Wings have plenty of prospects to offer, naming Marco Kasper or Jonatan Berggren in particular. The Wings also have their 2025 first-rounder as a big asset to dangle.

There are plenty of other teams linked to Cozens as well, so Sabres GM Kevyn Adams will have many options if he decides to go that route.

Cozens is only in the second season of a 7-year, $7.1M AAV contract.