Sabres swing big, sending Dylan Cozens to Ottawa for Josh Norris
The Sabres find their hockey trade, sending Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a 2026 2nd to the Senators for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Sneaky Joe breaks down the trade in depth, including why the evidence shows Norris is a better player than Cozens.
What is Norris as a player? Why did Ottawa send him away? Also, what went wrong with Cozens that sees his Sabre career come to an end.
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27 Comments
Sneaky… The Habs appear to have hit it big on 2nd round pick, Lane Hutson. They got that pick from Edmonton in the Brett kulak trade.
Cozens problem is that his 31-goal season occurred because his shooting percentage was 14.7%. In his prior 2 seasons with Buffalo 2020-21 and 2021-22, his shooting percentages were 6.5 and 8.1, respectively. Then in 2022-23 it rockets to 14.7% and he has a 31-goal season. But, remember where he was taking most of his shots from. He shoots from distance. He was taking shots that typically don't result in goals…hitting spots with an uncanny ability…or just plain luck. Whatever. He still shoots mostly from distance…top of the face-off circles, perimeter shots, and the like but for the last (almost) 2 full seasons…those shots aren't going in. He's not hitting those "spots" anymore…his luck has dried up. Look at his shooting percentage last season. His 14.7% dropped to 9%, with no big difference in the total number of shots he took in both seasons, 211 vs. 200. His 31-goal season became a very pedestrian 18 goal season (and at least 3 of those 18 were empty net goals). This season he was shooting at only 7.9% and shooting less often (he was on pace for 187 shots after the TBL game)…and still shooting mostly from distance. With Cozens…it's become apparent that what we've seen in 4 of his 5 years in Buffalo is what you get…not much. Unlike his contract. Thanks, Uncle Kevyn!
3 d men making big $ & add Byram for his next contract. As for Norris he has had 3 surgeries on his shoulder what good if he can't play. Then giving up a 2nd round choice which could be a high 2nd. What happened to get an established NHLer. Last game Dahlen got mugged & no one came to help out. Nothing changed still a soft team. Finally who were Dylan s line mates here, young players. The commentators will like this trade. Unless there is a change the organization is spinning its wheels into mediocrity again & again.
The 2nd round pick is probably because Docker is a much better player than Gilbert
Full on disagree that Cozens was / is a puck carrier. That is the weakest part of his game. Dude can't carry the puck past the blue line without losing it or giving it up. It's the main reason he can't drive a line. Couldn't be happier to get him off the roster, good luck to him
Norris is a PP and PK man. 5v5, lacks the scoring punch. Great guy, hope he does well in Buffalo, but not vs the Sens.
As a Sens fan Norris is an amazing player…..as long as he's healthy. That's the big question mark
1:53 they did in fact do exactly this later 🤣🤣🤣
Joe, Josh is a team leader on Sens hits this yr. Probably 2nd to Brady. Good sign on shoulder…bod.
JJ's is a noted allan walsh client….agent is part of SDPN. Today, he said he didn't get the rumors. Said there was nothing to it.
Sabres just got even softer, which didn't seem possible, but here we are. Oh well.
Sens fan here, I’m going to miss Norris in Ottawa. You guys are getting a great player! Hopefully this trade ends up being a win win for both our teams. I didn’t want to see Norris leave.
Lots of 2nds are solid hockey players. Pterka was one them
It’s a 2026 pick I believe
It’s not hate, you guys are pathetic, Kevin Adam’s deserves credit for what, he will get credit when he makes the playoffs, this town is filled with ass kissers
As a Sens fan, you got a Stud.
Context is important when evaluating trades. Can't speak to the Sabres side of things, but what works for the Sens is:
– Norris is fantastic but injury prone. He's had 3 major shoulder injuries. I believe if he has one more that could be his career. That said, he is one guy you love to root for and I'm hoping he has a fantastic career albeit not against us. Cozens is less of a risk on the injury front.
– Norris is great on the PP and pretty good on the PK but weak 5 on 5 whereas Cozens will do better 5 on 5.
– Both players are big hitters so that works well for both players although I love the size element for Cozens.
– I like the 2nd round pick which if it turns out to be a high 2nd round pick will be pretty valuable for the Sens.
– Buffalo eating $1m more in salary opens the door to Ottawa calling up Merilainen from their AHL team. Until today (and with Forsberg off LTIR) the Sens salary cap prevented that from happening. I would argue Merilainen has been Ottawa's best goalie this year so having Merilainen replace Forsberg is huge.
As a Sens fan, you guys got a great guy in Norris! It's looking like his health issues are behind him, and he can be a good 30+ goal scorer in a top line role if he plays a whole season.. on top of it, he will be great for the morale of the looker room cause he's just such a lovable guy. Sens fans will moss you, Neuf!
I can’t believe the size.. no way are Norris and Cozens almost the same size.
Sens fan – Norris is a high character guy. Has terrible history of health (shoulder is made of glass). Is getting paid $10mil in real money. He will only ever be a COMPLIMENTARY piece, he is not a play driver. End of story.
Good they traded Cousins…he had one aberration year in which no one played any defense under Granato…they all had inflated numbers that year…he doesnt play defense…comical descibing him as a 2 way center…
I wish Dylan Cozens the est in beautiful Ottawa, he seems like a very nice person. He had to go though.
Sens fan here, you are a great player. Maybe you guys can keep home healthy.
Norris has good goal totals but for a center he never gets assists, how does he only have only 13 assists in 53 games?
Its a move that is a win/win if Norris is healthy. Cozens will be a perfect fit with Zetterlund and Batherson. The second pick is where i think is the factor that the Sens win this deal. If the Sabres bottom next year, that pick is as close to a first as you get. To say the 2nd rounders dont mean much, say that to JJ Peterka who was drafted in the second round.
Josh is a skilled shooter that’s his top skill – he’s a really nice guy (sens fan here). You’re getting a good player but he does play a small game. He’s not physical out there and unfortunately you can see him sheltering that shoulder regularly. I think in a perfect world, if Norris is healthy, he outscores Cozens. But I think Cozens is the more valuable 200 ft player. We’ll see how it pans out but I’m very happy with this trade – good luck to Norris!
Cozens was tanking his season for a trade …it was obvious…