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Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens has frequently surfaced as a trade candidate in this season’s NHL rumor mill.
The 23-year-old was linked to the Calgary Flames earlier this week as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated up to two-thirds of the league’s 32 clubs may have expressed interest in him.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings are also among the rumored suitors for Cozens.
The Hockey News’ Karine Hains cited Weekes’ report and said the Canadiens acquiring Cozens would be a sizeable risk, although he has acquired young NHLers in need of a boost before, such as Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.
Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont believes Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is conducting due diligence by monitoring the Cozens situation. He pointed out that the young center’s production has suffered this season but suggested that could be due to playing for a bad team like the Sabres.
Cozens is in the second season of a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $7.1 million. He got that contract because of his career-best 31-goal, 68-point performance two years ago. The youngster has yet to return to those numbers.
Dumont also thinks the Sabres want a substantial return, given Cozens’ age and potential. RG.Org’s Marco D’Amico cited an NHL source suggesting the asking price could be a first-round pick and a good young roster player.
The Canadiens have two first-rounders in this year’s draft. However, D’Amico’s source claimed they want to see where they are in the standings by the March 7 trade deadline before deciding whether to part with one of them.
Hains, Dumont and D’Amico suggested Cozens’ hefty contract could become a burden if he doesn’t regain his once-promising scoring touch.
Meanwhile, former Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt is struggling with the Colorado Avalanche.
Mittelstadt was traded to the Avalanche last year in a 1-for-1 deal for defenseman Bowen Byram. He showed potential down the stretch and in the 2024 playoffs as a second-line center. However, Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin observed Mittelstadt has regressed this season. Meanwhile, Byram has become a reliable first-pairing blueliner for the Sabres.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted the Avalanche looked into acquiring J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks before he was shipped to the New York Rangers. He thinks that’s why Mittelstadt’s name is “out there” in the trade market. He believes the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs poked around.
Mittelstadt has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.75 million. The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau said that cap hit could become an issue for the team if his scoring fades, but he isn’t far removed from his 59-point season in 2022-23.
Larkin believes the 26-year-old’s playmaking skills could entice a team seeking short-term depth at center. He suggested the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets as possible trade destinations.
Related: New Canucks And Avalanche Additions Get Huge Opportunities To Impress
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