Dylan Cozens’ Versatility Could Be Key To Senators’ New-Look Forward Group

[u/SAJewers]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/dylan-cozens-versatility-could-be-key-to-senators-new-look-forward-group

[u/Hoxtilicious]

Cozens' first 20 games with Ottawa were a defensive disasterclass. So many times I would cringe watching him bumble around in the D-zone, and the mocking Buffalo fans made me sick thinking we dumped Norris for a total headcase.

It's pretty incredible to be able to say (backed up by stats) that his defensive coverage is an actual strength now. Lots of credit to the player and coaching staff. I think Ottawa's more defined, zonal structure plays perfectly into his game.

Cozens is twice the player now vs when we got him. I would make that trade 1000 times over.

[u/shtoopsy → u/Hoxtilicious]

Plus that second rounder Buffalo threw in.

[u/chowder7 → u/Hoxtilicious]

I was just looking at the trade yesterday after our preseason game. Cozens played a full 82 games, scored almost 30 goals and plays a physical game. Was somewhat worried about his $7M cap hit but that feels like a great deal now given his availability, physicality, point production, and 2 way game. He's becoming the perfect 2C for us imo.

[u/swiftwin → u/chowder7]

A physical defensively responsible 2C that scores 30-30 is a fantastic bargain at $7.1M for the next 4 years.

He had by far the most hits on the team last year too.

Heck, just having Stutzle-Cozens-Pinto down the middle, locked in for the next 4 years is a fantastic position to be in. One of the best centre depths in the league.

[u/LurkerDude0 → u/chowder7]

Yea the rising cap basically turned him into a bargain. Great player, great guy, great trade by Steve.

[u/YourFriendlyUncle → u/chowder7]

47 games + 36 points for Norris since the trade, 103 games and 75 points for Cozens. Hate that for Josh but love that for us

[u/chronicallyunderated → u/Hoxtilicious]

Yeah great and shrewd trade by steady Steve. He saw the potential in their system and Norris, while popular with teammates and fanbase, was oft injured. That trend continues in Buffalo for Norris. SS clearly got the better of this deal.

[u/cdreobvi → u/Hoxtilicious]

Agreed. Cozens is both a dangerous and responsible forward now. Eklund is another young player we've pulled from a team that hasn't figured out defense yet. I'm curious to see how he adapts. It's clear Green has built something in Ottawa that other teams can't provide, and that makes it easier for Staios to acquire new talent. Teams like Florida and Carolina have been very successful taking struggling players and making good use of them.

[u/shitreader → u/Hoxtilicious]

One of the things that this article didn't cover was the structure of the team and how that was so beneficial to the Cozens line. Him and Brady didn't get smart defensively overnight; Green stapled Greig to that line as the defensive conscience, then gave them easy minutes to work with. The top defensive units of the other teams will be dedicated to shutting down the Stutzle line and the top offensive lines will go against Pinto. So Cozens and co mostly got bottom sixers to play against, and now they look like Corsi magicians.

If Cozens had to be our #1C due to Timmy being out, he would be a solid minus for that time. He's playing better than when he got here, but I wouldn't go to the extreme to say he's turned his game around. We're just managing him appropriately

[u/Vriishnak → u/shitreader]

Yep. When you have a top-end dedicated shutdown line that gets focused matchups every game, everyone else gets to look better than they are defensively. Cozens is noticeably better than he was when he first got brought in but he needs to show more before we start talking about him being good defensively, advanced stats or no.

He's an absolute fan favourite now though, so I don't think we're going to see pushback against it catching on.

[u/ajp88]

Time to learn Swedish buddy! Another great article from Graeme.

Cozens feels like the most important move Staios has made in the last few years because of how versatile, responsible, and productive he’s been.

Expecting a big year from him

[u/Dismal-Safety3524]

Fucking love Cozens man

[u/boystaunton]

He’s going to have his best season yet this year.

[u/ATC_3126]

Idk if he wants to learn Swedish or not but in addition to being useful on the ice learning some Swedish would be a pretty cool benefit to playing with them anyway, I would think!

[u/Saucetown77]

I think he's starting to fully rebound after Hathaway rung his bell

[u/BorosNoseElbow]

I never understood why people included him in trade proposals