Dylan Cozens Sent To WHL

The Buffalo Sabres have decided that Dylan Cozens will have to wait just a little longer before starting his NHL career. The team has sent the top prospect back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, where he will remain for the rest of the season.

Cozens, 18, was the seventh overall pick in June’s draft, taken by the Sabres after an incredible junior season. The smooth-skating forward put up 84 points in 68 games with the Hurricanes, just a year after earning the WHL Rookie of the Year award. Add in some international success at the U18 World Juniors and Hlinka-Gretzky and Cozens was a hard-charging prospect that caused some to wonder whether he could step right into the NHL.

That regular season debut will have to wait, but even after suffering a thumb injury that took some time away from his training camp, Cozens impressed in his first chance. The Sabres are hoping to start moving towards a competitive window and players like Cozens will be relied upon heavily to add some offense behind Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner. Already standing 6’3″ with elite skating ability, if he can add a bit more strength he should be a force unlike many others around the league.

Players that are sent back to junior are ineligible for recall except in emergency situations, meaning Cozens will have to wait until the end of his year with the Hurricanes before joining either the Sabres or Rochester Americans of the AHL for some professional experience. He will however have a shot to earn himself a role on Canada’s World Junior team after being invited to the Summer Showcase earlier this summer. He was unable to attend because of that thumb injury, but a good start with Lethbridge could make him an undeniable entry on what should be a powerhouse international roster once again.

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