Breaking: Sabres & Senators Blockbuster Sends Cozens to Ottawa

The Buffalo Sabres have been one of the most sought-after teams on the trade front all season, with a number of names on the rumor mill. Reports have emerged that they're completing a huge blockbuster deal that would send Dylan Cozens to Ottawa.

Ottawa/Buffalo deal sounds like:

Norris/Bernard-Docker
for
Cozens/Gilbert and a 2nd in 2026

Big one
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025

The deal is pretty much confirmed at this point, with Dennis Gilbert and a second-rounder in 2026 also going to Ottawa.

Cozens has been on the rumor mill all season, as he's having his second consecutive disappointing season after a breakthrough 31-goal season two years ago. He has five more years left on a $7.1M cap hit, while Norris has five years to run on a $7.95M cap hit.

Cozens has 11 goals and 31 points in 61 games, while throwing 148 hits. Bringing his 6'3" frame and willingness to drop the gloves, it's felt as well that he could take some of the fisticuffs duties from Brady Tkachuk.

The Sabres had insisted they would only make "a hockey trade" for Cozens, to get players back that would help them on the ice right away. Norris is that. A physical player who can score goals, he has 20 this season in 53 games, along with 133 hits, but has had a heckuva time staying healthy over the course of his six-year career, and the Sens were just ready to move on from him. If he can just get over the injury troubles, he can finally live up to that cap hit.

Bernard-Docker, a depth defenseman, has played 13 minutes a night this season through 25 games.