The Canadiens are eyeing Dylan Cozens, but trade hurdles remain. Could they pivot to another target like Bowen Byram instead? (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Amid the rumblings around the league, NHL insider Kevin Weekes indicated that the Montreal Canadiens have shown interest in Buffalo Sabres forward, Dylan Cozens.
According to a source close to the Sabres, the club is looking for a comparable player at center, a top 4 right-shot defenseman or an elite NHL prospect ready to step in immediately.
On top of the Canadiens, the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators are all showing interest, but most of those teams don’t have much to spare currently that they could sacrifice off their roster.
Cozens also comes with a $7.1M cap hit for another five seasons after this one, which further complicates the idea of a trade with the likes of Toronto, Detroit, and Nashville in the short-term.
Given the situation, multiple sources have told RG that they expect a package that includes a mix of current and future assets would need to be built to acquire Cozens.
A Fit with The Canadiens?
Even though the Canadiens have two 1st-round picks, two 2nd-round picks and three 3rd-round picks in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft, as well as a long list of prospects, the fit may not be the best right now.
Yes, they can surely put together a package of futures to push the needle from a pure value perspective, but, as sources have indicated, the Sabres aren’t just looking to get rid of Cozens. They want a piece that’s going to grab their attention.
“They’re going to want a significant established piece or a high-level asset they can flip for one,” said a source out of the Eastern Conference close to the situation.
“Montreal would likely need to include one of their 1st-round picks and a young player off their roster, and I’m not sure they want to do that right now.”
The issue is, the Canadiens’ most valuable expendable assets are their two 2025 1st-round picks, and they have no idea yet just how valuable they will actually be.
Similarly to Calgary Flames general manager, Craig Conroy, sources indicate that Kent Hughes is playing a waiting game with his 1st-round picks, thanks to their place in the NHL standings and the many conditions included in the Sean Monahan trade of 2022.
It’s still too early to know where those picks will fall, as the Canadiens have slipped in the standings of late and the Calgary Flames’ pick can finish as high as 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
“Montreal won’t move their two 1st-round picks until they have more clarity on where things are going. Right now, Calgary is playing well above expectations, they’re also only six points away from 10-to-last,” said the same source. “If they make a move now and gift another club a top 15 pick, on top of other assets, it could be disastrous for them.”
The upcoming increase in the salary cap is giving teams across the NHL more flexibility to make moves before the NHL Trade Deadline and readying for next season.
Players like Dylan Cozens, Trevor Zegras and Casey Mittelstadt are all centers across the NHL that the Canadiens have shown interest in over the last year, with Cozens and Zegras being the most recent according to a source.
That being said, the source does say he’s heard Calgary and Detroit have been much more aggressive in the pursuit of Cozens than the Canadiens.
Another Possible Target
Another NHL source out of the Western Conference confirmed having heard of the Canadiens’ interest in Cozens, but wondered if the Canadiens would be better off pivoting towards another player entirely.
In his estimation, the Canadiens could be better off looking to shore up their defense prior to the arrival of Ivan Demidov, who is sure to jolt their offense next season.
“But, when it comes to the Canadiens and Sabres, I wonder about Bowen Byram,” said the source. “The Canadiens still don’t have a true #1 D, and the Sabres and Byram could have that kind of potential and room to grow with Lane Hutson.”
Byram was selected fourth overall, one spot after Kirby Dach (3) and three spots ahead of Dylan Cozens (7), in the 2019 NHL Draft; a class of youngsters GM Kent Hughes is extremely high on.
Food for thought.
Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.
