The 2025 NHL trade deadline was just over a week ago, but the early returns are positive. Even though the Ottawa Senators are an overall streaky team, they have continued their winning ways from before the deadline. In March, the Sens are currently riding a 6-0-1 stretch. Moreover, one of the major contributing factors since the deadline, starts and finishes with the stats of Dylan Cozens. Cozens has been a force to be reckoned with for Ottawa. So, let’s dig in and see what we can discover on just how good the fit in the Canadian national capital has been thus far.
Dylan Cozens Stats and Player Analysis in 2024-25
Before we look at his time in Ottawa exclusively, let’s consider where his NHL career started, with the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres had built a physical roster and Cozens was an important piece to bring size and skill. Overall, it is surprising Buffalo isn’t a playoff contender based on their roster. However, to watch them play is a bit of a mess and why the trade itself made sense. General manager Kevyn Adams was trying to shake up the roster composition of the Sabres. Conversely, for Ottawa and GM Steve Staios, it certainly seems to have worked out favourably.
On the season, in 65 games, Cozens has 13 goals, 22 assists, and 35 points. This total would have him seventh on the current Sens roster in points. (Interestingly enough, one point behind fellow newcomer Fabian Zetterlund.) Another statistic that shows Cozens’ value (and Zetterlund’s, too) is expected goals. This was a focus of the off-season player additions. Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins, and David Perron were all strong in that statistic last year. Therefore, from a statistical standpoint, it’s easy to why Cozens would potentially fit and play an impactful role with the group.
Cozens is an Excellent Fit in a Senators Sweater
For more Dylan Cozens individual stats, he may not be tearing it up but still very consistent. More specifically, he’s started strong with the Senators. In four games with Ottawa, he has two goals and two assists with 11 shots. That included a career-high nine hits in his Sens debut versus the New York Rangers when he played a total of 17:27. Furthermore, he’s up to a total of 20 hits in a Sens uniform, averaging 15:34 a game. In terms of xGoals, he’s been on fire. In two games he finished with the third best standing on the team. Then, last game vs the Boston Bruins, he was tops at 1.694. The next closest player was Shane Pinto at 0.611 and Tkachuk was slowed. So, Cozens has been getting it done on the scoresheet and analytically.
What Does It All Mean for Cozens and Ottawa
Of course, hockey is not all stats (except maybe the win column). But then again, that’s where Cozens still finds success, the intangibles. He will seemingly engage in battles with anybody. In addition, he’s strong enough to be doing the pushing and not getting pushed around. He combines that with the stickhandling to be able to battle through the traffic. Cozens (and Zetterlund) seem to have injected this Sens lineup with an element that is hard to bottle up. They control the game and help round out the forward group with speed, size, and skill.
In any sense, if Ottawa does prevail in their playoff race, they and many thanks to Cozens and Zetterlund, will be a worthy foe for any opponent. As the stretch drive wears on, the Sens hope their streaking ways stay on the warm side. If it does, they will easily hold on to their current playoff position.
Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
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