Buffalo Sabres coach Paul Kreuger has announced that forward Dylan Cozens is day-to-day for the foreseeable future. The news comes prior to the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Sabres posted a short video about the newest absence Saturday morning.
Per Coach Krueger, Dylan Cozens is day-to-day and Jack Eichel is out for the foreseeable future. pic.twitter.com/GXgzM9vxvk
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 13, 2021
Buffalo Sabres Injury Woes Continue With Dylan Cozens Out
Cozens has been a fine depth contributor for the Sabres in 2020-21. The young centre has three goals and five points in 20 games. It’s not great production, but it’s important to note that he just turned 20-years-old. He is also playing on a bad team. At the very least, he has shown some playmaking ability from the middle-six and on the power-play as a secondary option. People shouldn’t worry too much about the former lottery pick as Buffalo tries to put a competent roster together.
The team originally drafted Cozens seventh overall in the 2019 Draft based on his size and intriguing set of skills. The Whitehorse, Yukon native is listed at 6′-3″, 188-pounds with the ability to be a true impact top-six centre. He scored 38 goals and 85 points in 51 games in his final season with the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes and should be an anchor for Buffalo if he has quality linemates. Cozens is an excellent scorer who can skate well, but it’s clear he needs more seasoning and bulk. He should excel at the NHL level after another season or two.
How Buffalo Replaces Cozens
It’s not a great time to be a Sabres’ fan. There was some optimism when the year began, but injuries and underperformance have doomed this campaign. Star forward Jack Eichel is also out and that leaves the team with almost no quality centres for the top line. The most likely replacement is Eric Staal with deeper options moving up the depth chart to compensate. Buffalo is very close to selling as the deadline approaches, so we may see some prospects debut over the coming months.
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