Staff Grade: B+; Reader Grade: B+
Dylan Cozens has come as advertised: hardworking and unwilling to take a night off. Readers and staff alike agree that, despite playing second- or third-line duties, he consistently finds ways to produce offensively. His team-first mentality is evident in his demeanour, as he is far less concerned about securing second-line centre minutes and more focused on helping the team win. I really enjoy the 2A and 2B situation that Pinto and Cozens share, and it’s because of their team-first attitude that the Senators can continue to be one of the strongest teams down the middle of the ice. It was certainly an excellent trade by Staios last year, solidifying the club’s centre depth.
Dylan Cozens finished third in team scoring this year with 28 goals and 31 assists for a total of 59 points. His contract already looks like a bargain when considering this year’s average cost for a player of his calibre who plays centre and is only 25 years old, entering the prime of his career. Not to mention, with the salary cap expected to rise over the next few seasons and Cozens signed for another four years, the deal becomes even more team-friendly. Staios took a gamble when trading for him after two underwhelming seasons and with five years remaining on his contract, but that gamble is paying off if he can continue producing around the 60-point mark — or even surpass it — in the coming seasons.
The best part of Cozens’ game is that he is a reliable two-way centre who can produce when the chips are down. He also scored two goals in four playoff games this postseason, further proving that he shows up in big moments. That places him second on the Senators in playoff goals and points.
Cozens has an excellent shot and has scored some beautiful goals this season. When he is playing with confidence, his release seems electric as it blows past goaltenders. His physicality and size once again make him highly effective away from the puck, and he has become a trusted player for Travis Green.
Regardless of whether it was Drake Batherson or Brady Tkachuk on his line, Cozens looked comfortable and capable of building chemistry despite the constant line juggling Travis Green likes to implement throughout games. This team is set for years down the middle, and it would be a mistake to trade such an asset this offseason. I understand the philosophy of trading from a position of strength to bolster an area of weakness, but centre depth should not be sacrificed. Hockey teams are built like a spine — you need to be strong down the middle, and there is no such thing as too much centre depth. Many great teams have had natural centres playing on the wing for this exact reason. Injuries make centres extremely difficult to replace, and acquiring one via trade is rarely easy. It is far more beneficial to have extra centre depth capable of shifting to the wing. Ideally, the Senators can package draft picks or other assets to strengthen their wings and further support their centres.
This trade is definitely Staios’ best move so far during his tenure. Josh Norris finished the season with 13 goals and 21 assists, while adding just one goal and two assists in the playoffs, appearing in only 44 regular-season games. Clearly a talented player if he’s healthy – and that’s a big if. The Senators can count their blessings that Staios was able to complete this deal. The team desperately needed another high-end centre capable of consistently staying in the lineup and generating offence. Meanwhile, they also escaped the long-term uncertainty surrounding Norris’ contract in what was ultimately a pure hockey trade — a brilliant piece of work by Staios.
I believe we could see Cozens surpass the 68-point season he posted five years ago if the Senators are able to acquire an upgrade on the wing. Adding another high-end scoring winger would push more talent down the lineup and potentially allow Cozens to play full-time with Drake Batherson. One can only hope Staios has another major move in the works to improve the Senators’ scoring depth heading into next season.