PuckSleuth
48Cap hit
$843K
0.8% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$891K
vs. $1.735M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
46
Goals
2
6.7% shooting
Assists
4
3 primary
Points
6
0.13 per game
TOI/GP
11:17
PP 0:03 · PK 0:56
Plus/minus
-1
Hits
120
Blocks 37
PIM
2
Game Score
+0.22
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8 vs MTL · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10:02 | 0:00 | 3:22 | 5-6 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.01 |
| May 6 vs MTL · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10:56 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 1-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.38 |
| May 1 @ BOS · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11:01 | 0:09 | 0:00 | 5-6 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.16 |
| Apr 28 vs BOS · OTL 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 16:55 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 6-6 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.24 |
| Apr 26 @ BOS · W 6-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10:59 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 5-10 | 40 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.89 |
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 · 456 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
12th percentile
6th percentile
34th percentile
4th percentile
2nd percentile
4th percentile
44th percentile
7th percentile
7th percentile
2nd percentile
44th percentile
2nd percentile
66th percentile
6th percentile
187 won · 200 lost (all strengths)
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 stylePhysical forechecking center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Kozak is a relentless, aggressive forward who dominates on the forecheck and in battles for the puck with his elite physicality and speed. However, his offensive instincts lag behind at this level, struggling to generate meaningful scoring chances or move the puck effectively.
- Shooting volume
- 2
- Playmaking
- 21
- Zone entries(est.)
- 68
- Forechecking
- 93
- Physicality
- 96
- Defensive impact
- 55
- Puck management
- 41
- Speed
- 89
Where he shoots from
Slot 54% · Mid-range 32% · Perimeter 15%(41 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite forechecking at 93rd percentile creates early pressure and turnovers
- Exceptional physicality in 96th percentile wins battles in all zones
- Outstanding speed at 89th percentile lets him chase down plays
Watch-outs
- Shooting volume at 2nd percentile shows reluctance or inability to finish
- Playmaking in 21st percentile limits his setup creation from the middle
- Puck management at 41st percentile occasionally turns it over under pressure
Similar style: Jacob Quillan, Zemgus Girgensons (TBL)
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Buffalo Sabres | 21 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 27.3 | 10:29 | 46.2 | +0.31 |
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 46 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 6.7 | 11:17 | 48.3 | +0.22 |
| Career | 2 seasons | 67 | 5 | 6 | 11 | -3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 12.2 | 11:02 | — |
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
No news about him in the last 30 days.
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 +0.37 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.22 per game
2025-26 · 46 GP
Season total +10.2, or +0.22 per game.
- Scoring
- +4.6
- Shooting
- +2.3
- 5-on-5 goals
- -0.1
- Physical play
- +4.3
- Puck battles
- -0.8
- Penalties
- +0.2
- Faceoffs
- -0.1
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.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 23.4 mph
- 94th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 106
- Hardest shot
- 81.1 mph
- 26th pct
- Distance
- 86.3 mi
- OZ time
- 35.9%
- 1st pct
- DZ time
- 46.2%
Usage
Last game: vs CHI, Oct 3
Not on a regular line last game.
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 23: 99% of peak
NHL forwards · production index
At 23, forwards typically produce 99% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 24, when the typical level is 100%.
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
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | BUF | $843K | 0.8% |
| 2027-28 | BUF | $843K | 0.7% |
RFA after 2027-28. $1.687M 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).