Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • Brawndo changed the title to Tyson Kozak being called up
Posted
13 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Who?

7th rounder from 2021.  This is his third year in Rochester.  A great energy guy at the AHL level.  Fun fact, he scored five goals in each of his first two seasons.  This season, he’s got five goals in 14 games. 
 

I’m a little surprised Kozak got the call, but I suspect the Sabres want a guy who is accustomed to a bottom six role I guess? Either that or they’re rewarding the hardest working guy on the team for that work. 
 

BTW, Rosen scored and it is 1-0 Amerks. 

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted

 

https://pickinsplinters.com/2024/11/30/kozaks-recall-to-sabres-shows-how-valued-he-is/

By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA

Tyson Kozak doesn’t have the dash and flash of the top prospects in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

Nor does he have the resume that says he’ll someday be an NHL player. He was, after all, a seventh-round draft pick, chosen after 192 others had heard their names called.

But what he does have is an undeniable desire to succeed, which is why he joined the Sabres on Friday night for their trip to Long Island. The recall, prompted by an injury to Sam Lafferty, is the first for the third-year forward.

“He’s a winner,” Rochester Americans coach Michael Leone said. “He’s going to play for a long time and he’s going to help somebody win.”

Kozak learned of the promotion shortly before warmups and was scratched from the Amerks lineup for the game against the Syracuse Crunch.

“It was pretty emotional for him,” Leone said. “This is a real example of how valued he is.”

Kozak has scored 5 goals and 1 assist in 14 games this season. He also has 24 penalty minutes. His game is all about work ethic and tenacity.

“To see a player that doesn’t even get on the power play – talk about doing it right,” Leone said. “He’s been unbelievable. It’s a really good message for the group: It’s a team sport. It’s not about points, it’s not about individual accolades, it’s about playing team hockey and winning, and Tyson Kozak’s a winner.”

His teammates were elated.

“Selfishly we’d love to have him here but you saw the big Buffalo (equipment) bag and gear starting to get packed and people couldn’t have been more excited for him,” defenseman Jack Rathbone said.

Said winger Isak Rosen: “He’s one of my closest friends here and it’s super-fun to see him go up. He really earned it.”

Posted

Kozak can score too.  He got promoted to the top line this year.  Before he was injured this year he was leading them in goals. He had a hot camp a few years ago and scored a bunch in preseason 

Hes gotten in a bunch of fights too.  Penalty killer. Hes the sort that you like to see succeed.  

  • Like (+1) 1
  • Thanks (+1) 1
Posted
2 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

 

https://pickinsplinters.com/2024/11/30/kozaks-recall-to-sabres-shows-how-valued-he-is/

By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA

Tyson Kozak doesn’t have the dash and flash of the top prospects in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

Nor does he have the resume that says he’ll someday be an NHL player. He was, after all, a seventh-round draft pick, chosen after 192 others had heard their names called.

But what he does have is an undeniable desire to succeed, which is why he joined the Sabres on Friday night for their trip to Long Island. The recall, prompted by an injury to Sam Lafferty, is the first for the third-year forward.

“He’s a winner,” Rochester Americans coach Michael Leone said. “He’s going to play for a long time and he’s going to help somebody win.”

Kozak learned of the promotion shortly before warmups and was scratched from the Amerks lineup for the game against the Syracuse Crunch.

“It was pretty emotional for him,” Leone said. “This is a real example of how valued he is.”

Kozak has scored 5 goals and 1 assist in 14 games this season. He also has 24 penalty minutes. His game is all about work ethic and tenacity.

“To see a player that doesn’t even get on the power play – talk about doing it right,” Leone said. “He’s been unbelievable. It’s a really good message for the group: It’s a team sport. It’s not about points, it’s not about individual accolades, it’s about playing team hockey and winning, and Tyson Kozak’s a winner.”

His teammates were elated.

“Selfishly we’d love to have him here but you saw the big Buffalo (equipment) bag and gear starting to get packed and people couldn’t have been more excited for him,” defenseman Jack Rathbone said.

Said winger Isak Rosen: “He’s one of my closest friends here and it’s super-fun to see him go up. He really earned it.”

Kozak is a guy that Mike Peca really liked for some reason.   He projects as a bottom 6, probably 4th line, but if he can bring some scoring to the 4th line and still hit and play fast that could help.  

Currently we get ZERO secondary scoring from the 4th line.  

 

Posted (edited)
15 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Kozak is a guy that Mike Peca really liked for some reason.   He projects as a bottom 6, probably 4th line, but if he can bring some scoring to the 4th line and still hit and play fast that could help.  

Currently we get ZERO secondary scoring from the 4th line.  

 

Always suspected Peca liked him because he was the only guy the Sabres have drafted in forever that projected towards being a bottom 6er right from the get go and he was willing to play that way.  There are guys like Rousek who have worked their way down to that and guys like Murray who have worked their way down below even that to career AHLer; but Kozak is one of the very few that they weren't bringing in with the expectation that they could fit into the top 6 given enough cooking time.

Plus, considering how bizarre the sport was in '20-'21, there was the hope that maybe they'd lucked into a guy that should've been chosen much higher.  And Peca's endorsement of the kid only fueled that hope.

Edited by Taro T
Posted
Just now, French Collection said:

I know Lafferty is a 4th liner, but I expected more in the way of speed, forechecking and grit.

Maybe Kozak can be the next Matt Ellis.

I am hoping for better...

  • Agree 1
Posted
2 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

I am hoping for better...

I’d temper your enthusiasm. All the talk of Kodak’s scoring ability is being greatly exaggerated.  He scored his 5 goals this season all in the first 7 games. Only one assist.  He may be better than his 2-3 goal output his first two seasons but I’d be shocked if he scored 10 goals in his NHL career.  Just not a lot of talent.  Works his butt off but sometimes that’s just not enough.  The Sabres need Wahlberg to adopt some of those habits.  He has the talent to be an excellent scoring 3rd line wing. 

  • Like (+1) 3
Posted
10 minutes ago, French Collection said:

I know Lafferty is a 4th liner, but I expected more in the way of speed, forechecking and grit.

Maybe Kozak can be the next Matt Ellis.

He has speed for sure.  He forechecks when his line gains the offensive zone, and he hits and has grit.  He has shown very little ability to finish so far.  He has had enough looks for about 3-4 goals but he has just 1. 

I suppose that is why he is on his 5th team in 5 seasons?   He is a 4th line journeyman type of player.  

Posted

With Aube-Kubel still healthy, I'm not sure they dress Kozak, but I do hope he gets into the game anyway. He's a 4th liner, but he already knows he's a 4th liner -- somehow, he's always known -- and plays that way and has since juniors. That's a very useful trait.

I still call out the same highlight I saw live in juniors -- Kozak decleated a kid on a perfectly legal hit. Seattle enforcer and NYR pick Rempe came over to address it and Kozak reverse-checked him. Straightened up and stunned Rempe instantly while Kozak skated away with the play. (I wouldn't recommend that now, as Rempe has probably put on 30 pounds since then and Kozak has likely not, and Rempe has embraced pure heel-pugilist role.)

  • Thanks (+1) 1
Posted
On 11/30/2024 at 12:32 PM, French Collection said:

I know Lafferty is a 4th liner, but I expected more in the way of speed, forechecking and grit.

Maybe Kozak can be the next Matt Ellis.

Scary but that actually seems kind of an improvement ... lord... I dont believe I just said that... oh the days of when we had Bob Corkum... those were the days lol

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...