PuckSleuth
24Cap hit
$7.1M
6.8% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
M-NTC
5-team no-trade list
Surplus value
+$303K
vs. $7.403M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2025-26 regular season
GP
82
Goals
28
13.7% shooting
Assists
31
14 primary
Points
59
0.72 per game
TOI/GP
17:02
PP 3:11 · PK 0:05
xGF%
60.0
5v5, +14.2 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.83
per game
Faceoff %
53.2
435 W · 383 L
Plus/minus
-7
Blocks 24 · Hits 215
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 vs CAR · L 4-2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 17:23 | 2:52 | 0:00 | 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +1.34 |
| Apr 23 vs CAR · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16:16 | 3:01 | 0:01 | 3-2 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +0.34 |
| Apr 20 @ CAR · OTL 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 27:25 | 2:53 | 0:00 | 4-1 | 67 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +1.38 |
| Apr 18 @ CAR · L 2-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 18:58 | 6:07 | 0:00 | 7-4 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.22 |
| Apr 15 vs TOR · W 3-1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 18:35 | 3:04 | 1:00 | 1-4 | 57 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +1.56 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,049 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
99th percentile
91st percentile
89th percentile
94th percentile
95th percentile
96th percentile
51st percentile
85th percentile
96th percentile
91st percentile
60th percentile
52nd percentile
22nd percentile
75th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleHigh-volume sniper
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Cozens is a pure finisher who plays with explosive speed and relentless forechecking pressure. He compensates for modest playmaking by generating his own chances and dominating on the forecheck to create scoring opportunities.
- Shooting volume
- 92
- Playmaking
- 57
- Zone entries(est.)
- 21
- Forechecking
- 82
- Physicality
- 74
- Defensive impact
- 69
- Puck management
- 66
- Speed
- 94
Where he shoots from
Slot 52% · Mid-range 40% · Perimeter 8%(294 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional shot volume (92nd percentile) with strong slot presence (52%)
- Elite forechecking intensity (82nd percentile) forces turnovers consistently
- Rare combination of speed (94th percentile) and physicality (74th percentile)
Watch-outs
- Rush chance creation lags significantly (21st percentile) despite overall speed
- Playmaking (57th percentile) limits his ability to set up teammates
Similar style: Noah Gregor, Cole Sillinger (CBJ)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP
Season total +68.1, or +0.83 per game.
- Scoring
- +46.3
- Shooting
- +15.4
- Defense
- +1.8
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Physical play
- +5.5
- Puck battles
- -1.7
- Penalties
- +0.2
- Faceoffs
- +0.5
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Buffalo Sabres | 41 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -15 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 6.5 | 14:21 | 47.5 | — |
| 2021-22 | Buffalo Sabres | 79 | 13 | 25 | 38 | -19 | 55 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 160 | 8.1 | 15:54 | 45.6 | — |
| 2022-23 | Buffalo Sabres | 81 | 31 | 37 | 68 | -3 | 41 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 211 | 14.7 | 16:30 | 48.3 | +0.87 |
| 2023-24 | Buffalo Sabres | 79 | 18 | 29 | 47 | -4 | 42 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 200 | 9.0 | 17:14 | 45.5 | +0.69 |
| 2024-25 | Buffalo Sabres | 61 | 11 | 20 | 31 | -13 | 62 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 139 | 7.9 | 17:13 | 50.6 | +0.62 |
| 2024-25 | Ottawa Senators | 21 | 5 | 11 | 16 | -4 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 10.2 | 16:37 | 50.8 | +0.62 |
| 2025-26 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 28 | 31 | 59 | -7 | 59 | 13 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 205 | 13.7 | 17:02 | 53.2 | +0.83 |
| 2026-27 | Ottawa Senators | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 16:17 | 37.5 | — |
| Career | 7 seasons | 445 | 110 | 162 | 272 | -65 | 281 | 28 | 79 | 5 | 8 | 1028 | 10.7 | 16:32 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Dylan Cozens happy to share Whitehorse stage with Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna
torontosun.com · Oct 4
- Dylan Cozens Pregame Media vs TOR
NHL.com · Oct 3
- Will Dylan Cozens Score a Goal vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 3?
Bleacher Nation · Oct 3
- Senators’ Cozens thrilled to represent Whitehorse alongside McKenna
Sportsnet.ca · Oct 3
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +1.04 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 23.8 mph
- 98th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 211
- Hardest shot
- 90.0 mph
- 84th pct
- Distance
- 217.8 mi
- OZ time
- 48.0%
- 99th pct
- DZ time
- 34.5%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 25, forwards typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 28, when the typical level is 93%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
4 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | OTT | $7.1M | 6.8% |
| 2027-28 | OTT | $7.1M | 6.3% |
| 2028-29 | OTT | $7.1M | — |
| 2029-30 | OTT | $7.1M | — |
UFA after 2029-30. M-NTC (5-team list). $28.4M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).