It’s no secret that general manager Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators have been looking for opportunities to add depth down the middle, and they have reportedly expressed interest in an intriguing young center who has recently become available on the trade market.
NHL writer Marco D’Amico reported Monday morning that a league source had confirmed Nashville’s interest in Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens. A natural center, Cozens has been playing on the right wing with the underperforming Sabres for much of the season. He has 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) through 31 games and is two years removed from a 31-goal season in 2022-23.
At 23 years old, Cozens fits the bill for a Predators team that intends to keep getting younger, according to Trotz. A former first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in 2019, Cozens comes at a steep price; he signed a seven-year, $49.7 million contract ($7.1 million AAV) in 2023 that expires at the end of the 2029-30 season.
The Predators currently have $7.39 million in cap space according to PuckPedia, but that includes the $4 million owed to Ryan Johansen, who filed a grievance after his contract was terminated by the Philadelphia Flyers before the start of the season. Even if they had ample cap space, the Predators would need to be willing to move roster players in order to acquire Cozens.
Nashville’s options are limited, as the majority of their star players and highest earners have no-move clauses. The Predators could – and probably will – make an effort to buy low on Cozens, who has largely underperformed since signing his extension, but Sabres GM Kevyn Adams will surely drive a hard bargain.
The NHL’s holiday roster freeze begins Dec. 20 at midnight and lasts until Dec. 27, so this will be an intriguing situation to monitor in the days to come.
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