Josh Norris #9 of the Ottawa Senators battles Luke Evangelista #77 and Steven Stamkos #91 of the Nashville Predators (Photo by Troy Parla/Getty Images)
As has been reported by numerous outlets, the Nashville Predators are working the NHL trade market to find some help before the NHL Holiday Roster Freeze. According to one NHL source, one of the players that the Predators have eyes on is Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens.
“I know they’ve spoken to the Sabres and one of the players they like is Cozens,” the source told RG.
Cozens, as are plenty of his teammates, is off to a sub-par start this season with just 6 goals and 7 assists in 31 games. The natural center has actually been playing on the right wing of the second line with Jiri Kulich at center and Zach Benson on the left wing.
Addressing The Steven Stamkos Rumors
According to another NHL source, the Predators are looking for help up the middle and on defense.
“They’re looking for at least a middle-six center and, if they can, a top-four defenseman,” the source told RG. “They’re going to have to move roster players for both, and they know that.”
That would indicate that if the Predators were somehow able to acquire Cozens, whom the Sabres drafted seventh overall at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, they would play him at his natural position.
The hope would be for Cozens to find his game again and hopefully jumpstart one or both of the team’s big offseason signings up front in Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.
Speaking of Stamkos, there has been some recent speculation that some teams may try and see if he and/or the Predators are having second thoughts about Stamkos’ fit with the team.
“As far as I know, that’s purely speculation,” another NHL source told.
There has been no indication from Stamkos or inside the team that the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain is already thinking twice about his new team. The 34-year-old and two-time Stanley Cup Champion signed a four-year, $32 million ($8M AAV) contract on July 1.
The Predators' free agent splash also included 2022 Stanley Cup champion and 33-year-old winger Jonathan Marchessault on a five-year, $27.5 million ($5.5M AAV) contract the same day. Through 30 games, Stamkos has 8 goals and 8 assists and Marchessault had lit the lamp 7 times and had 11 assists.
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.
