mjd1001

I think a lot of the 'outside world' is either Canadian media, or American hockey media that has a lot of Canadian members. An American got traded to an American team, in exchange for a Canadian getting traded to a Canadian team. When it comes to hockey, the saying is true..."Canada loves Canada". No shot intended there, thats just the way it is. Also related to that, a lot of that media is Canada based, and they know what their audience wants to hear. Give them what they want. Finally, Cozenes 'highlights' are more positive than his actual play. Most people see, or at least hear some of his nicer goals, they hear "Top 10 pick", or "fomer 31 goal scorer". The outside world doesn't see the missed assignments, the lost pucks in his skates, the lack of awareness of anything related to the NHL hockey game in his decisions.

Now, play out the rest of the season and see how Norris fits in. Its no secret that once he gets a few games under his belt (in about a week or so), this trade will make the current team better. For the offseason: -Decide what you are doing with Bryam and how he fits in. If he is moved, an good Right shot, veteran D-man who is good enough to play in the top 4 would be great to trade for or sign (overplay if you must). Whether you keep or move Byram, it would be nice to get ONE good veteran D-man in here anyway. -Get some toughness. I don't like fighting in hockey anymore, but get somoeone who can legit do it. And I don't mean someone who can be put into the lineup for a game and is willing to go but will get pounded to the ice. Someone who can play AND do the job. -Goaltending. This is tough. I think UPL can have a bounce back year, and I think Levi isn't better than UPL yet. But next year, one way or the other, you need better play from your goaltending. I have no idea what to do but figure it out. I'm good with the above. If there are no major injuries and the above is completed, I think this is a playoff team next year.

If there are guys that are sick that might not even play, how many other guys on the team are playing but are also sick and 'good enough' to go but not 100%? This might not be a pretty game to watch.

I think for sure the Sabres got the better player. It isn't about scoring goals either. The numbers and history show that Norris is better in terms of pure production. The biggest thing is that the Sabres removed someone who might be among the worst defensive/neutral zone forward in the entire league, and hopefully replaced him with someone that is at least average. If Norris scores at his career rate, you are getting the better offensive player. If Norris is even average away from the puck, you are getting a huge upgrade there. We'll see how he 'fits' on this team, If he can stay healthy. But over an 82 game season, I think he helps you generate up to 10 more goals a year as a team than Cozens, and I think he might help you prevent, or at least 'not cause', 5-10 goals less per year than him. If you can get a net 10-15 goals per year differntial with this deal...and I DO think that is possible over a full 82 game season, that is a huge win for a single move.

Coming into the deadline I though the one single move that would make this team better more than anything else would be to get Cozens off the team in exchange for anything useful. Mission accomplished. It might not look the next 3 games with the level of competition coming up, but this trade is going to be better for the team. 1.) Greenway and Zucker I'm just slightly positive on. If they were back great, if not oh well. I guess I should say I'm happier about Zucker than Greenway. 2.) Cozens out, Norris in. The other parts no big deal. This move I like a lot Just getting Cozens out gets an A+ from me. 3.) Kubel for Brannstrong...no idea, don't think it matters much. 4.) Jokiharju out for a 4th, again, doesn't matter much. Finally moving on from Cozens make the day a bit win for me, not much else is a concern besides that.

Ok, makes sense. I would just think with how often this happens, the NHL would have some kind of system set up where delays wouldn't be an issue, especially when the guy is a Canadian.

This one I can't figure out....the guy has played games in the USA before and flown in with Ottawa, right?

If I were to say what are some ways that Cozens made me unhappy with him as a player, I might list: -He is awful defensively, for sure not a 2-way player. -his physical game has gone away, not standing up for Dahlin last night was really bad. Its also not the only time it has happened with him. -he's a pretty bad shooter, no accuracy, He has the lowerst shooting percentage this year of any forward on the team now not named Sam Lafferty. -in the offensive zone he does't see his linemates and doesn't set them up. I have said on this forum before, he's a 'black hole' in the slot. Once the puck goes into him, it never comes back out. Not a playmaker that sets up his linemates at all. Well, in his post-trade interview with Ottawa media he said the following: "I think I'm a player that can play a strong two-way game and bring a physical side, and then also a shooting and playmaking side," Cozens said following the trade. https://www.nhl.com/news/dylan-cozens-traded-to-ottawa-senators-by-buffalo-sabres-for-josh-norris

Josh Norris also was one of Ottawa's best/most used penalty killers. 2:15 minutes per game on the PK.

He's from Sweden, hes close to the same age as Dahlin...maybe they had a history of playing together/knowing each other.

By nhl edge metrics, Norris is one of the fastest skaters in the league. Elite speed. With McLeod and Norris being 2 of probably the fastest 20 skaters in the league, and Tage way out in front in terms of the hardest shots taken in a game....this Sabres team could probably do really well in a skills competition.

That is what I feel. When you are on the PP, there is a bit more 'pressure' to score than on a regular shift in a way. He is one of the least productive scorers on the power play. Game winning goals? He has a fraction through is career what guys like Tuch and Thompson have. With Cozens, the weakest part of his game was scoring when put in a situation where you are pressing for a goal, he almost disappeared. If he is responsible Defensively and that line is still scoring, then of course stick with it.

Can't totally rule out the chance Tage moves back to center and Kulich gets some time at wing. I don't think that looks likely now, but you never know.

I wonder if the plan for most of the rest of the season will be for Norris to get those top line Center minutes....just needs a few games to get up to speed with the system?

The dowside obviously: -Norris misses a lot of games, at least he has in the past. The upside: -In the past 4 years, 460 forwards have played over 100 games. He is 38th out of 460 players in terms of goals per games played. He is also much better than Cozens on the PowerPlay: -Cozens 12 career PP goals in 341 games (1 PP goal every 28.4 games) -Norris 33 career PP goals in 236 games (1PP goal every 7.1 games) Of players with over 500 minutes of ice time on the PP over the last 4 seasons (basically a PP regular), he is 17th best in the entire league in goals per 60 (out of 150 forwards with that many minutes or more.)

Unrelated to the trade, but I never saw any of those movies until about 3 years ago...now I watch any of them whenever I come across them on TV.

My head is spinning.

"Yeah, it's pretty tough," Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said. "It [stinks] losing a guy like [Norris]. Obviously, everybody knows how much he means to me. Just spent the last little bit with him and I'll kind of take advantage of every minute for the rest of the day ... Tough practice today." "It's the unfortunate reality of it being a business," Tkachuk said. "We're getting back important pieces that are really going to help us. I mean, it [stinks]. It's part of it, but with 'Cozy' and Gilbert, we're going to welcome them with open arms. I feel bad a little bit that this is the initial reaction and of course I think they're going to understand why it's a little bit of a whirlwind for me personally, but with that being said, it's all about being a good captain, being a good teammate and making sure that they have everything that they need and have the support right from Day 1. They're going to be important pieces to our team." https://www.nhl.com/news/dylan-cozens-traded-to-ottawa-senators-by-buffalo-sabres-for-josh-norris

Cozens is gone, a Center (who is scoring a LOT more than Pettersson is) is on the way back. I'm good with no EP at this point.

I like the move a lot. I'll like it even more if they make another deal that involved some more toughness coming back in return.

My thinking? Your thinking is the one that is flawed here. Why just give it away? Maybe because Ottawa wouldn't do the trade without it? Did you have a source in the room when Buffalo said "Thanks, take a 2nd also, on us"

That 2nd has about a 1 in 100 chance of being a good nhl level player in the next 3-4 years. I'm ok with it. Gilbert is not a great player but as you said he is one of the few guys on this team that will 'go' with anyone when needed. Hopefully since he is gone, a suitable replacement for that role is incoming.

I expected less so I'm surprised. He is net negative player. For the last 2 years the team 'loses' when he is on the ice. Every player he has played with for more than a handful of shifts per season is worse when they play with him. A legit argument can be made this team gets better simply getting rid of him. I'm sure other teams scouts, and their analytics depts all know this also. Not bad, just not sure Quinn fits anywhere well the way he is playing.

Because Norris is a better player than Cozens, a LOT better scoring and a little better without the puck.

I have this 'feeling' that Cozens will look good for the rest of the year. I think the trade will 'reinvigorate' him, and I think he needs that. Also, I think when he gets there they might just tell him "go out there and just play simple hockey, shoot the puck, hit people" and that is his game. Next year after a full year of camp, where he 'learns' the system more and they start asking him to do more (defensive coverage), that is when you might see things settle back down for him in a negative way. That might be oversimplifying it....but the above would be my best guess for how things unfold for him. Much better play for Ottawa this year than he has played for Buffalo...and then next year and beyond are up to him deciding whether he wants to put the work in to legit change his game.