NHL Rumor Mill – February 6, 2025
The Canadiens are linked to Sabres center Dylan Cozens while the Avalanche are believed to be shopping Casey Mittelstadt. Check out the details on these and other notable speculations in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CANADIENS INTERESTED IN COZENS?
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting the Canadiens are among the teams looking into the availability of Dylan Cozens. Weekes indicated the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs were also interested in the 23-year-old Buffalo Sabres center.
Dumont noted that Cozens’ contract ($7.1 million average annual value through 2029-30) and his inconsistent offense are areas of concern. With several other teams looking at the young center, the Canadiens would have to part with two or three good assets to get him.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico also weighed in on the Canadiens’ rumored interest in Cozens.
Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens (NHL Images).
He believes Cozens wouldn’t be a good fit for the Habs at this stage, citing a source suggesting the Sabres could seek a first-round pick and a good young roster player as part of the return.
The source said the Canadiens won’t part with their two first-rounders in this year’s draft until they’ve got more clarity on where they’ll be in the standings by the March 7 trade deadline. He wondered if the Habs would have more interest in Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like most general managers, Kent Hughes of the Canadiens will conduct due diligence regarding players believed to be available. He has the assets to acquire Cozens but could prefer waiting to see if the asking price goes down.
Hughes could try packaging struggling center Kirby Dach with a first-rounder. However, that’s unlikely to entice the Sabres, especially when a number of teams are said to be interested in Cozens.
As for Byram, the Sabres probably don’t want to part with him unless they’re getting a significant return. That’s why he and Cozens were suggested as a trade package to Vancouver for Elias Pettersson.
AVALANCHE SHOPPING MITTELSTADT
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Colorado Avalanche attempted to acquire center J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks before he was traded to the New York Rangers. However, they never came close enough to threaten the Rangers’ deal.
“That’s why Casey Mittelstadt’s name is out there,” writes Friedman. “Believe New Jersey, Ottawa and Toronto poked around, but not with much traction.”
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin observed Mittelstadt has fallen back into underachiever mode after showing promise last season as a second-line center with the Avs. Nevertheless, he believes the 26-year-old is a good playmaker who could benefit a club seeking help at center for a couple of seasons.
Larkin suggests the Avalanche could be willing to move Mittelstadt, citing their aggressiveness in this year’s trade market by shipping Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. Possible destinations include the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets.
THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak made no mention of Mittelstadt as a trade candidate in his examination of the Avalanche’s trade deadline plans.
Masisak suggested they could maybe (emphasis on “maybe”) use a center with some size but believes shoring up the depth among their bottom three defensemen is their biggest need.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mittelstadt could be used as a trade chip to address that blueline issue. His stock is down from last season when Buffalo shipped him to Colorado for Bowen Byram, which has worked out well for the Sabres. Mittelstadt could become an option for teams that come up short in the bidding for Dylan Cozens.
TRADE RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to sign Brandon Saad before he joined the Vegas Golden Knights last week.
Friedman wonders if the Pittsburgh Penguins keep the top-13 protected pick they received from the Vancouver Canucks in last week’s trade. That was the pick the Canucks received from the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller deal. He believes the Penguins would want “controllable young talent, preferably in the NHL or close” in return.
The Carolina Hurricanes won’t wait until the last minute to sign Mikko Rantanen as they did last year with their failed effort to re-sign Jake Guentzel. They’re eager to get it done but Friedman wonders what happens if there is no contract in place for Rantanen by the March 7 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ll retain Rantanen and keep working on a deal. They’re all-in for the Stanley Cup this season, even at the risk of losing him to free agency on July 1.
The Dallas Stars aren’t done adding to their roster. Depending on how they handle Miro Heiskanen’s knee injury (and they aren’t rushing him back for the regular season), they still have around $5 million in LTIR space. They could add another right-shot defenseman.
Friedman believes the Tampa Bay Lightning would be interested in Alex Tuch if the Sabres make him available. “They wouldn’t be the only ones”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has a five-team no-trade list. There’s no indication the Sabres are attempting to move him or that he’s asked to be traded.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell would be a perfect fit for the Winnipeg Jets. However, Friedman doesn’t believe he’s available.
Teams seeking defensemen should monitor the Utah Hockey Club. They’ll soon have extra.
Poor Buffalo. Another year of being the Montreal Expos of Hockey. At least the Spos had some limited success before having their young talent bought n sold off to other teams.
Ownership and an incapable GM are the problem.Adams has been GM for almost 5 yrs and this team is no better than when he took over. That says it all
This Habs talk is always extremely excessive..Huges or the beat writers want good young players like Cozens or even Middlesad but won’t trade their 1st round picks or young prospects but yet they insist guys like Matheson or Savard will get them first rounders and they sort of make up trades where Dvorak, Gallagher, Arma and Dach packaged up will get them Pettersson….hmmm a lot of talk
Kirby Dach and Dylan Cozens are virtually the same player.
Completely agree….statswise, it’s pretty much a wash. Habs shouldn’t offer more than a one for one, Dach for Cozens and with the salary diff, it’s risky. They’d really have to believe a change of scenery/system/coach would make the difference they need.
Why would ANY team give up
3 assets including a first round pick for a guy that is locked in at 7.1 for another 5 years and is struggling- I’d pass too.
Of the 4 teams Weekes suggests are strongly seeking Cozens, only Calgary with their Titanic-size cap reserve could comfortably fit his $7.1 mil per in without moving out existing cap in some fashion.
And I doubt Buffalo is interested in taking back some contract deemed expendable from Detroit, Toronto or Montreal … unless it was accompanied by some very high draft picks or Grade A prospect (as seen by Buffalo management, that is).
The Habs have a lot of money coming off the books at the end of the season. They’d be able to fit in Cozens contract.
I’d really try to make this deal. I’d offer Dach or Newhook, the lower of this years two firsts and maybe another prospect like Adam Engstrom.
Why would the Habs trade a struggling Dach at 3.4 per season for a struggling Cozens at 7.1?
A lot of noise about Cozens but look at his stats, particularly his .5 point per game pace this year and last.
The Habs have too many reclamation projects on the books, some solid prospects and lots of draft capital. Cozens is not the missing piece.
At the end of the season, nut not now.
“…but not now … (I gotta get a new keyboard that isn’t totally faded) lol
Hey George! Yeah Calgary is definitely a make sense landing spot for Cozens but rumours of Zary or Coronato going back are ridiculous & Conroy would never do that. Maybe Sharangovich, his new contract kicks in July & wouldnt be considered futures. He’s had a rough year, I saw when he got injured in that last exhibition game against the Jets & it kinda has derailed his season. When he’s he can really score though. Not sure that would be enough though.
There are many that are afraid we are going to extend Andersen for too long of a term & too much money & his age doesnt fit this retool. Our D pipeline, especially the right side is stacked, Parekh, Mews, Bruz. but they are a few years away. Conroy wants to compete now & Wolf is the reason we can.
We wonder if a Cozens & Byram for Andersen + might work for both teams, not sure how much that + would be but that would be the structure of a deal with Buffalo. Maybe Andy will enjoy playing with Dahlin at the 4 Nations & all parties agree that would be a good path to go. Who knows. Otherwise, Flames just have cap space & lots of futures.
LJ
If looking for a C I think Mittlestat with his lower cap hit and production would be a better option than Cozens.
Buffalo will never become a decent team unless they start spending money on development.
Also, hiring a coach based on nostalgia isn’t a great idea either.
After the big hit on Thompson nobody came to his defense. They’re not playing for each other.
Daryl, while Middlestadt would be – IMO – a better pick than Cozens, I am off of him now.
His stats in Colorado are unimpressive and he has a shiny -13 with 9 goals this year.
The Habs are in a death spiral and are better to ride out this season, make some assessments as to who amongst their prospects can contribute at the NHL next season, and then make trades or sign UFAs to fit needs.
George, actually Adams has stated he’s not looking for futures…he wants a hockey trade-NHL player for NHL player. Detroit has nothing to give the Sabres and Detroit isn’t going to give up core players.
I agree with you that Calgary is in the best position of the 4 to make a trade happen. Sabres need a RHD, Andersson or Weegar would be something the Sabres could use but I doubt Calgary goes for that maybe if the trade were to expand on the number of players involved. Not being familiar with the needs of Calgary I can’t say how far to expand the trade.
Cozens isn’t the type of player the Red Wings would need to bolster their line up.
@George O Detroit has around $14,100,000 at the trade deadline, They can easily fit Dylan Cozen in without offloading big contracts.
BSabres are not shopping Cozens. Teams are inquiring.
Sabres have a deep prospect pool. Thry aren’t interested in picks/ prospects. They would want nhl ready players in return
In a few years the Sabres could trade some of their youth, not now.
Ryan mcLeod trade us an example of the type of trade they would do. He was under 25.
The Sabres biggest needs are…
1. A mid pair RD
They have prospects thst are a few years away
2. A top 6 center
Helrnius, Ostlund, and Kulich can fit. If they feel Cozens may be better at winger then they acquire a center.
Agree with you 100% Dan. Great add
Seems to me Cozen while a nice player is overpaid at $7.1 million..
Who wants that contract? Cap is going up so someone will take a chance on him.
Makes total sense, Dan. Any contract they’d take back would need to be a very good current roster player and not one that the other team looked at as expendable.
In other words, with where they stand now, and any hope of catching a playoff spot remote at best, what is their motivation to trade him now?
If they think they might be ready to deal him, simply wait until the draft ,,, or later … depending upon the initial offers. No team is going to get him for some prospect or two that is still plugging along in the minors.
I have no interest in Cozens coming to Montreal. He’s had enough years to break through and isn’t worth the contract.
I doubt HuGo are doing anything regarding Cozens other than kicking the tires.
Regarding Habs expiring contracts and pending UFAs, nobody serious is expecting getting 1st rounders in return.
Habs have a boatload of picks and prospects, the cupboard is far from bare.
The Habs have young guys like Beck and Demidov who will punch their tickets next year and don’t need any projects.
I saw this after I posted my reply to Howard.
Yep.
I think Cozens would bounce back to the form he had a couple of years ago in a new team.
The Habs need a #2 center. I don’t think Dach is it. He’s better off as a winger.
Habfan30 A year ago everyone in Montreal were drooling over Newhook,Dach and Slafkovsky!Now they are sweet on Beck and Demidov!Paying Slafkovsky 7.6 million for 8 goals at this point is a little steep!You Don t see a need for Cozens because as you say he has had enough years to break through!How about your boys,Slav,Dach and Newhook,when do you see them breaking through?
Sr,
Each missed almost all of last year and a third of the previous one so nobody was drooling over him
Newhook was and is playing wing and c contributing decently, both guys are on low affordable contracts.
Slag is a kid doing quite well, rounding out his game while maturing and contributing in the second half like he did last year.
I understand your need to troll but think a little bit before engaging.
The fanboy sites you obviously inhabit rarely reflect the thoughts of the Hab fans that come in here to post opinions.
I feel like slavishly is looking like a middle six at this point. He might pick it up. He’s still young, but he was drafted for his elite offence and that’s not looking like its translating to the nhl yet.
Larkin needs to explain why the Jackets would want an underperforming center when they have an abundance of centers.
Habs fans have been drooling for years and they will be drooling for a long time waiting for their 5th liners to develop…if you listen to RDS they thought Bournival was the next McDavid
Regarding Buffalo being gun shy to trade a player who has success elsewhere, that’s rather myopic.
Each of the players mentioned had pretty good seasons in Buffalo, they didn’t all of a sudden explode after leaving.
Exactly right Habfan, people tend to forget Reinhart and Montour going to Florida and Eichel to Vegas, they all went to teams that had a supporting cast which they never has in Buffalo.
If that is Adams big worry then try trading with teams at their own level instead of teams hunting the cup.
The Sabres ownership and management are a dumpster fire.
Dan you are absolutely spot on about Cozens.Ever since Elliotte Friedman pitched the Byram and Cozens trade for Pettersson the rumor mill has gone wild. As Kevyn Adams stated he has not initiated trade talks to trade Byram or Cozens. All Adams has done is his due diligence and taken the calls from other G.M.’s. Pierre Lebrun even reported this yesterday. Its nice to spitball these trades but its not going to happen.
Habs fans
If the team is “souring on” or considering trading him; what would be the cost (in futures) to acquire Dach?
8787,
Kirby Dachissed almost a year and a half of play and got off to an okay start.
It isn’t surprising that the consecutive back to back roadtrips have taken a toll on him and Laine, but he’s coming around.
There will continue to be a question of whether he produces better on the wing or at centre.
I like his game and physicality not to mention soft hands I just think he belongs on the wing so he is far from wearing out his welcome.
Thanks
I was just following up on some in the media saying he might be traded
Would love him on Pens
266 games played in the past 5 years. 121 points and a minus 49. Hard pass.
Re; A cousins trade
The Retune Has to be a
RD-man for Buffalo to trade Cousins, this is a massive hole they need to Fill…..🤔
1/
Calgary
For one of there RD,
Makenzie Weeger or Rasmus Anderson for Cousins.
2/
Hab’s
RD 22 yr old Logan Mailloux &
A Kirby Dack or A Jake Evans
2 of the 4 could work Well….
Both
the Leafs and the Wings Don’t have anything to Offer that Buffalo Need to help them out NOW..❗️❓❓
I agree. Even though Cozens would be a good fit in Detroit, I don’t think they have what Buffalo wants in return.
I highly doubt buffalo trading cozens for that Habs package. They don’t want a prospect and an underperforming mid 6 center or ne that has punched above his weight class for one season.
Calgary’s rd might entice, but it’d have to be weegar for me as anderson contract is coming up next year and probably won’t stick around. Weegar might have a nmc
Re-Buffalo,
This cousins trade may happen After the Draft in June if its Anderson ….❓
Or
A sign and trade set up for July 1st 2025….
So Calgary know what they are picking ether way in the Draft…🤔
We know buffalo will pick a Top 6 and it will be a forward like
-A Centre Misa,
-Or A RW Matrone,
-Or A Centre Caleb Desnovers
depending where they finish…..
Thoughts…❓🤔
williew, it’s Cozens in Buffalo ,,,, Cousins is in Ottawa
Cozens has gone from untouchable to the invisible man. Why sell low?
Someone give the Bruins a kick in the ass to get some scoring right now.
All the Cozens talk and trade proposals for him are rather silly, you’d think the chatter was about Rob Thomas or Shane Pinto given the supposed mix of draft picks, prospects and young players bandied about.