At the 2019 NHL Draft, Dylan Cozens was drafted with the seventh overall by the Buffalo Sabres. Cozens was looked at as a player to be a major help to Jack Eichel and help the Sabres get back to the playoffs.
Unfortunately, Cozens' tenure in Buffalo ended rough when he was traded this past March to the Ottawa Senators. After being traded, Cozens had something to prove and delivered with being a big help to the Senators' 2025 playoff push.
Cozens' impact on the Senators in under two months was a solid one. However, despite having success in a short amount of time, it's important for the Senators to be cautious about Cozens.
Cozens' play and contract is something to be cautious of moving forward
After being traded to the Senators in March, Cozens recorded 16 points in 21 games. Cozens recorded one point in nine of his first 12 games as a Senator. Then, Cozens' play took a dip when he went five of the next seven games without a point.
Cozens did conclude the regular season on a high with recording a multi-point game in the final two games. In both games, Cozens recorded two-assists. When it was all said and done with the Sabres and Senators combined, Cozens recorded 47 points in the 2024-25 regular season.
The Sabres have seen Cozens produce a quality season and then have his play take a dip before, which could be a concern for the Senators. In the 2022-23 season, Cozens recorded a personal best 68-point season. Then, Cozens followed it up by recording 47 points in the 2023-24 season.
Prior to being traded in March, Cozens had recorded 31 points in 61 games with the Sabres. Cozens didn't score a goal in the Sabres' first 10 games of the season.
It does seem that Cozens has fit in better with the Senators than the Sabres despite recording two points in the 2025 playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cozens did score a huge insurance goal in Game 5 to put the Senators up 2-0 in the third period while being on the penalty kill.
After the 2025 playoffs, Cozens mentioned how he's having fun playing in Ottawa and how things are more positive with the Senators than the Sabres. Even with high praise for playing in Ottawa, there's one thing to be cautious of Cozens.
That would be his contract. Cozens has a $7.1 million cap hit per year until 2030. At his salary, the Senators will be expecting more production in the future, but recording 16 points in 21 games after being traded over while learning a new system is solid.
For the 2025-26 regular season, Sens fans should be optimistic and excited to see what Cozens can do in a full season with the Senators. Cozens' impact left fans optimistic despite trading away fan favorite Josh Norris to the Sabres to receive Cozens.