NHL Rumor Mill – February 13, 2025
Why has Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson changed agents? Could the Red Wings be interested in Sabres center Dylan Cozens? What’s the latest on the Rangers and Flames? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DOBSON CHANGES AGENTS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reported Noah Dobson changed agents from Andrew Maloney to Judd Moldaver and Olivier Fortier of Wasserman Hockey. Moldaver represents some of the NHL’s top players, including Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias looks at two reasons why Dobson made this move. He’s either unhappy with the Islanders and wants a trade (which Macias considers unlikely) or it’s a business decision to garner better terms on his next contract.
New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Macias that the second reason is the most likely. Dobson, 25, is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. Macias pointed out that Fortier was the agent who got Alexis Lafreniere his new seven-year contract (with an average annual value of $7.45 million) with the New York Rangers.
COULD THE RED WINGS BE INTERESTED IN COZENS?
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan speculated the Detroit Red Wings could have some interest in Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens. It’s rumored the Sabres could move the 23-year-old Cozens by the trade deadline.
Khan suggested Cozens could fill the second-line center role on the Wings, a position that’s been difficult to fill. They also have the cap space to accommodate the remaining three years on his contract, which carries an average annual value of $7.1 million.
The Sabres would want a good young player but Khan doesn’t believe the Wings would part with Marco Kasper or Simon Edvinsson. The Wings could see Kasper as eventually filling the second-line center role.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman remains patient with his young players. If he’s unwilling to part with Kasper or Edvinsson, the notion of a Cozens trade falls flat. The Sabres won’t be interested in draft picks and prospects, they want a player in return who can help their roster now.
LATEST ON THE RANGERS
THE ATHLETIC: If New York Rangers GM Chris Drury becomes a seller by the March 7 trade deadline, Arthur Staple and Peter Baugh believe there will a be market for defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forwards Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith. They’re slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Lindgren would draw the best return. Despite a down season, he remains an attractive player for contenders seeking a physical shutdown defenseman. Vesey and Smith could fetch mid-range draft picks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staple and Bough point out Drury’s been a buyer and a seller this season. He could follow the same path at the trade deadline.
UPDATE ON THE FLAMES
CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson recently speculated the Flames could use the 4 Nations Face-Off break to consider ways to address a couple of roster issues before the trade deadline.
They could seek a permanent defense partner for MacKenzie Weegar, suggesting Carson Soucy of the Vancouver Canucks as a trade option. Gilbertson also wondered if they’ll stick with backup Dan Vladar or seek a more experienced second-stringer to support and mentor rookie starter Dustin Wolf.
I know Soucy seems to be on the market but would Vancouver really trade him to Calgary now?
They have a recent trade history. The Flames sent Lindholm and Zadorov to the Canucks last season.
But this year they are the only 2 teams in a fight for that second WC slot.
Re; RD man Dobson…
Stefen Rosner the hockey News….
said yesterday That Dobson Has to parted ways with his agent, Andrew Maloney of Maloney & Thompson Sports Management.He will now be represented by Judd Molaver & Olivier Fortier from Wasserman Hockey,
This is Fuelling Speculation He wants Out of NYI… ASAP…‼️
He Can see’s the writing on the wall they are going in to a Re-build that could be the norm
They are now taking 7-8 years +so Dobson could well be 33-34 years old by the time its looking better on the NYI
Re; A trade out for NYI,
Im sure they want a good return
1/A Very Good Prospect back , likely d-prospect
&
2/ A 1st Pick
3/A 2nd Pick back as part of a package
4/ and a player $3 to$4.M to cover salarys in & out
For Noah Dobson as he is looking for a long term deal with a Cup Contender..? he is currently on
$4.M, he would be looking for $6.5M to $7.M PA,
a 2nd pairing RD….
Im A Trade for him im sure…in the 25 yr old RD… as a 2nd pairing…
1/ Im sure the Oilers are Very intrested as its a Big hole here in Edmonton on 2nd RD pairing.
2/Buffalo are intrestsd
3/The Preds….
4/ Ottawa…
5/Maybe the Sharkes
Who Else do you guys think……………….🤔❓
if Buffalo Trade Cousins
its only for an established RD like a
M.Weegar or A R. Anderson 27 & 28 yr old RD
For there 1st or 2nd pairing from Calgary
who really like the young Right shot 23 year
old centre…………..❓🤔
i think it happend at or beforthe trade dead line
Bowen Byram is going to need to get paid soon. So how does Buffalo factor his salary into their overall payroll?
I dont see anyone paying the Sabres in NHL-ready players for a Cozens trade to work today.
The only way the Sabres deal Cozens is if they are overwhelmed with an offer … and with his sputtering play to this point in his young career, I doubt any team – despite where he was picked – is going to fork over the farm for a guy who could be the second-coming of Nail Yakopov or Jesse Puljujarvi.
If Buffalo is going to move anyone it will be pending UFAs like Jason Zucker.
It’s not like Buffalo needs the cap space, so they can afford to wait on the kid.
I would wait on him too George.
I know I sound like a broken record on Cozens, but I think it could be a huge mistake to trade him.
I can’t see there being a character issue as it would go against who he has been the entire time during his Jr career in Lethbridge, and his time playing for Canada internationally, which was every single year since he was 16. Where he usually wore a letter, and always produced. Including as a pro in the WC. He has an “A” in Buffalo now. So if there is, it’s new.
We don’t know why he has struggled the last couple seasons, and their might be something we don’t know. Even an injury he is trying to play through, maybe he asked quietly to be moved.
BUF should learn from what Yzerman (who mentored under Holland) is doing. Patience with young players. Let them ripen in the AHL, all of them except the exceptional, which are incredibly rare. It hasn’t happened in Buffalo, but they should start now or it will never get better. Detroit will.
If you believe in the player, and I would believe in Cozens, you help him work through this vs trading him. Unless there is something we don’t know.
Or Buffalo will keep being Buffalo, and they will trade him.
Sabres need to get an NHL GM too
George
They Buffalo really need a Very good RD-man
It’s a Hugh Hole on buffalo d
They could trade one of there 4 LD for A forward something older 28-30 yrs old…….❓⁉️
The have got men meny
LD the need to fix their D they have goaltending
they have forwards three or four are gonna be good coming up over the next 2 years….🤔
They can trade a d or cousins….❓
It would be great for the fans if Sid did get moved to a contender. i know its a long shot
Dobson is RFA so change in agent won’t impact where he’s traded to.
A RHD having an off year when he needs to show it most.
Seems to be lowering his value but to what point? Nobody knows and that’s why all kinds of possibilities are being tossed about.
I doubt he’ll be traded but I assume Hughes is kicking the tires as the Habs are in on RDs
If you were a GM who would you trade for,Cozens or Middlestadt?In the next round of deals who would you trade for, Nelson,Oreilly,Schenn,Coyle,Dvorak,Kadri, McCann!
Except no one, I don’t think, is going to give up a “very good” sure-bet RD for a player who may never develop the way he was projected, and who costs $7.1 mil off the cap for 3 more seasons after this.
The Sabres are looking at a cap surplus of around $29 mil … so why give up on Cozens now? They can easily afford to keep him and – as would any team prepared to take him in a deal while giving up top-notch assets – simply hope for the best.
Nor would they deal him for returns that would have as many questions marks as Cozens himself?
They’re far better off just keeping him … unless, as I say, some team overwhelms them with an offer they can’t refuse … and I just don’t see that happening with any team.
I would give Cozens one more season. Just passed 300 games and is only 24
I don’t see him as a number one C but a very good #2.
Unless you can obtain a true 1C in a package why would you move him ?
Theodore hurt last night. Let’s hope no one else but I have my doubts