NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Sabres’ Dylan Cozens And Blues’ Brandon Saad

The Buffalo Sabres ending their 13-game winless skid last month gave them a reprieve from the incessant trade rumors that dogged them for weeks. However, the media chatter still lingers as they struggle to climb out of the deep hole they’ve dug for themselves in the NHL’s Eastern Conference standings.

Dylan Cozens remains the prime topic for trade gossip. He’s in the second season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.1 million. The 23-year-old center has struggled offensively this season, prompting some pundits to suggest he could become a trade candidate.

Kent Wilson of the Calgary Sun is the latest to chime in, suggesting Cozens might be a good addition to the Flames. He cited their efforts to land a right-shot center with size and thinks the 6-foot-3, 207-pound Cozens could fit the bill.

Related: Flyers Should Aggressively Pursue Sabres’ Dylan Cozens

Wilson examined the pros and cons of acquiring Cozens, pointing out his regression since his career-best 31-goal, 68-point performance two years ago. He also noted the Sabres’ reluctance to part with the big center after seeing Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart thriving elsewhere following their unhappy tenures in Buffalo.

Cozens could accelerate the Flames’ rebuild, but Wilson believes he’d be expensive to acquire, citing his contract and the Sabres’ potential asking price of draft picks and prospects.

It’ll likely take more than that to land Cozens. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reportedly wants to add to his roster instead of subtract. He’ll seek a return that fetches a good young NHL player, similar to his swap of Casey Mittelstadt last season for Bowen Byram.

Related: Five NHL Teams That Need A Reset In 2025

Turning to the St. Louis Blues, Brandon Saad surfaced midway through last month as a trade candidate. A seven-time 20-plus-goal scorer and a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, the 32-year-old left winger is struggling to score this season.

On Dec. 14, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Blues were trying to move Saad, who has a year remaining on his contract with a $4.5-million cap hit. He also has a full no-trade list, but Friedman claimed he’s willing to consider other options.

Friedman followed up on Saad’s situation last Saturday, claiming his future in St. Louis would be worth monitoring in 2025. He didn’t indicate possible trade destinations.

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