SENSNEWS

Dylan Cozens is getting ready to play his first full season as a member of the Ottawa Senators.

Dylan Cozens Acquired By Senators

At the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Senators acquired Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a second-round pick in exchange for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Cozens was in the midst of a down season with the Sabres, registering just 31 points in 61 games before being traded to Ottawa.

It marked his second consecutive season with 47 points, a decline from the 2022-2023 season where he recorded 68 points.

It’s safe to say that the situation in Buffalo was no longer a good fit for Cozens. Both the fans and the organization appeared to have soured on him—and the feeling seemed mutual.

Dylan Cozens’ Hot Start With Ottawa

After arriving in Ottawa, Cozens looked far more productive. In 21 regular-season games, he tallied 16 points. He also added a goal and an assist in the playoffs against the Maple Leafs during the Senators’ first-round series.

Another noticeable trend was that Cozens’ advanced analytics had declined significantly over his final two seasons in Buffalo.

In his breakout year—when he scored over 30 goals and recorded more than 60 points—he was considered an analytical darling.

Things dipped from there, but that trend wasn’t exclusive to Cozens. Similar patterns emerged with other Sabres players, some of whom are no longer with the team.

So it begs the question: was Cozens the problem, or were the Sabres? There’s technically no definitive answer, but past case studies suggest that the Sabres were the common denominator.

This was how Cozens’ advanced analytics looked heading into the 2023–24 season following his breakout campaign in Buffalo. Several analysts believed he had the potential to become an effective first-line center at the NHL level.

Fast forward to the 2025 trade deadline, and this is what Cozens’ analytical card looked like:

All of this points to a clear trend: when Cozens is producing offensively, it’s not a fluke or an unsustainable outlier. His analytics tend to mirror his point production.

Ottawa Senators Need A Dylan Cozens Bounce Back

The key now is getting Cozens back to the form he showed in the 2022–23 season. You may recall that was the year Buffalo missed the postseason by just a single point.

When the Sabres were performing well, so was Cozens. It’s not guaranteed he’ll return to that level—but there’s certainly a chance. With Ottawa pushing for the playoffs again this season, Cozens may elevate his game once more.

With a full training camp alongside his teammates, Cozens should have time to build chemistry. The line of Cozens, Drake Batherson, and David Perron looked quite effective down the stretch last season.

Cozens Has Time To Reset

Cozens has now had time to settle into his new surroundings and get his personal life in order. This offseason will serve as a reset, giving him the opportunity to enter the 2025–26 season with a clean slate in a new organization.

The talent is clearly there, and there’s good reason to believe we’ll see a bit of a course correction in his game. He’s currently projected as the Senators’ second-line center, likely flanked by Batherson and either Claude Giroux or Perron.

The biggest key will be getting Cozens to fully buy into the defensive side of the game. This was an issue we saw with several Senators players before Travis Green was hired as head coach.

The hope is that Cozens follows suit and improves his defensive play. If he can evolve into an effective two-way centre who contributes 50–60 points, that will be a major win for Ottawa.

Support From His Teammates

Centre depth is expected to be a strength for the Senators this season. It will allow the team to be more versatile and will prevent Cozens from being forced into roles he’s not ready for.

If necessary, he can lean on Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto for support. And if injury strikes, Ridly Greig could slot into the third-line center role, giving Ottawa added flexibility.

The offensive upside with Cozens is obvious, and there’s certainly potential for him to set new career highs.

But a bounce-back season doesn’t need to be flashy—just responsible, consistent second-line center play. For Ottawa, that’s exactly what they need from him.