The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to explore the trade market for a middle-six centre. Buffalo Sabres‘ Dylan Cozens is the latest name that Toronto has been linked to. Since November, and maybe even earlier, Toronto general manager Brad Treliving has been searching for enforcement down the middle of the ice. Several names have been thrown out in the rumour mill. Some names include Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, and Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers. However, with Cozens on the radar, he might be the biggest name the Leafs have been linked to this season.
A New Name on the List
According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, Toronto is linked to Cozens, a young star for the Sabres. The 23-year-old is in his fifth NHL season and has had some solid campaigns in that span. However, compared to previous campaigns, Cozens has had a bit of a drop-off this season. In 53 games, he’s scored 10 goals and recorded 16 assists for 26 points for the Sabres. He’s been on a slight decline in terms of offensive production over the last three years.
Two seasons before this campaign, Cozens hit his career high. In the 2022-23 season, the Whitehorse, Yukon native scored a career-high 31 goals and 68 points, finishing fifth in team scoring that season. Furthermore, Buffalo was a decent team in that campaign. They finished just one point behind the Florida Panthers, who advanced to the Stanley Cup final. However, this season the Sabres have had a huge drop-off. Buffalo are one of the few teams in the Eastern Conference that aren’t in a wild-card race. They are the only team that hasn’t hit 50 points on the season and are 11 points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning who hold on to the last wild-card spot. Therefore, every player on the team is having a down year.
Nonetheless, Cozens is an effective player who can do many things. Firstly, he’s a player who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around and muck it up in the corners. At 6-foot-3, Cozens is a feisty player and could be a great fit for the system of Leafs head coach Craig Berube. With that, there is plenty of room to go to the young centre and he has lots of upside.
What Will Toronto Need To Give Up for Cozens?
Given how young Cozens is and the long road ahead of him, he wouldn’t be a cheap acquisition. Treliving must be ready to throw valuable assets at him in a trade to acquire him. Without any doubt, there would have to be a first-round pick going to Buffalo from Toronto, but they don’t have one in 2025. In addition, the Leafs would probably have to give up one of their top prospects in Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten.
Chances are, Cowan is a more attractive piece given his junior career up to this point. Last season, Cowan scored 34 goals and 96 points in 54 OHL games with the London Knights. He helped them advance to the Memorial Cup final. This season, the 19-year-old has 18 goals and 40 points in 29 games. The Leafs prospect was also a key member of Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship, recording three points in five games in the tournament.
Cozens has a $7.1 million cap hit for five more seasons after this campaign. With the salary cap projected to rise over the next three seasons, his contract shouldn’t be a problem. However, if Toronto wants to get Cozens this year, it’ll be challenging to make the money work. The Maple Leafs currently have $3.8 million in cap space thanks to a few players on LTIR. That means Toronto will have to send money back to Buffalo. Leafs forward Max Domi could potentially be an asset that goes to the Sabres. Although he’s likely the man out, Domi has a 13-team no-trade list and Buffalo might be on there.
A lot of pieces and stars need to align for this deal to happen, but there’s no doubt that it’s an interesting possibility.
Main Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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