麻豆社区

Whitehorse hockey phenom Dylan Cozens is looking to improve on a breakout season.

The 麻豆社区player is currently spending the off-season in Whitehorse relaxing and enjoying time with his family.

The Star spoke to the 6鈥�3鈥�, 200-pound Buffalo Sabres centre Tuesday.

Cozens, 22, explained how he ended up in Buffalo, who made him the highest Yukon draft pick ever.

(In fact, he was the first Yukoner to be drafted in the first round of the NHL draft. He was also the first Yukoner to be drafted in the first round of the Western Hockey League draft.)

鈥淚 got drafted in 2019. And I went to their camp there. But I got sent back to the WHL for a year. I played in Lethbridge for a year and the next year I came in and made the team in Buffalo and have played three full seasons now.鈥�

Cozens was also the first Yukoner to be selected to Canada鈥檚 world junior hockey team. He played in the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic, where he tallied two goals and seven assists in seven games en route to winning a gold medal.

鈥淭he first year was a great experience, obviously 鈥� and we won gold. That was the main goal and we achieved it, so had a lot of fun there,鈥� recalled Cozens.

He followed that up with a co-captaincy at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton. Cozens had an outstanding tournament, leading Canada in scoring and finishing second overall with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists, +11). It wasn鈥檛 enough, as Team Canada had to settle for silver following a 2-0 loss to the U.S. in the gold medal game.

TSN announcer Gord Miller made Cozens nickname, the 鈥淲orkhorse from Whitehorse鈥�, famous during the tourney, although TSN analyst Craig Button is actually credited with coming up with the moniker.

Cozens was also named one of Canada鈥檚 top three players in the tournament.

鈥淭he second year was the COVID year in the bubble in Edmonton,鈥� related Cozens. 鈥淚t was tough. Just being locked up and having no fans and obviously not winning gold. So (the) first year was definitely a lot better.鈥�

The Workhorse from Whitehorse also played in the 2022 senior World Championships in Finland, where he racked up seven goals and six assists in 10 games and once again settled for silver.

Cozens has spent three seasons in Buffalo.

鈥�(The) first season was a little tough. It was kind of rock bottom for us in the organization.鈥�

The Sabres had a record of 15-34-7 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season, finishing 31st in the league.

鈥淪ince then, we鈥檙e just getting better and better,鈥� said Cozens. 鈥淎nd this past year was really good, just a point out of making playoffs. We鈥檙e making strides and really going in the right direction. So that鈥檚 what matters.鈥�

Buffalo finished with a 42-33-7 record this past season. Had they beaten the Florida Panthers on April 4, they would have been in the playoffs.

鈥淚t was definitely frustrating, just being that close and being one win away from making it,鈥� admitted Cozens. 鈥淛ust looking back on all the games we knew we should have won, and we lost. It鈥檚 crazy to look back and know that it was one game that made the difference for us making it or not.

鈥淏ut nobody expected us to be that close to playoffs. It鈥檚 a big thing for us to have been in that race and play important games and we know next year now that playoffs is definitely the goal.鈥�

Cozens had some memorable moments this past season.

鈥淥ne night that was special was Ryan Miller Night where we honoured him and his career with Buffalo and then scoring the overtime winner, so I think that was one goal I鈥檒l remember forever.鈥�

Ryan Miller is a former goaltender who played with the Sabres from 2002-2014, winning the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender) in 2010. He won 284 games for the Sabres and 391 in total during his 18-year career.

Miller was honoured by the team Jan. 19 when the New York Islanders were in town.

Another memorable game for Cozens took place in Buffalo on Feb. 26.

鈥淢y first career hat trick against Washington was definitely something that I was happy to achieve,鈥� recalled Cozens.

鈥淎nd a game I鈥檒l remember forever, too.鈥�

Cozens had a 30-point jump in scoring this year, going from 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) to 68 points (31 goals, 37 assists).

鈥淚t felt good for me personally, just to make that jump,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 always kind of saw myself as a guy who鈥檇 be able to produce and score goals. So to increase my points by that much in one year is something that I kind of always expected of myself, but to actually do it, that means a lot to me. And I just want to keep building and getting better every year.鈥�

The humble 麻豆社区attributes his recent success to several people.

鈥淚 definitely owe a lot to the coach in Buffalo, Donnie Granato, for believing in me and trusting me as a player and then obviously, just every player that I played with. I got to play with some really good players who helped me out and I definitely wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do it without them.鈥�

One of the people he鈥檚 been inspired by is teammate Tage Thompson, who has turned into a bonafide 麻豆社区in the league, racking up 94 points (47 goals, 47 assists) this past season. He had tallied 68 points in the previous season after only notching 14 points in 38 games in the 2020-21 season.

鈥淭he year before, he had such a big jump in his offensive output, his numbers,鈥� said Cozens. 鈥淚 think that inspired me to do the same. Just to be able to watch him do that and make that jump and then me follow it, I think it was big for both of us and for the organization. Just watching him do that definitely pushed me to step my game up too.鈥�

One of the lessons Cozens has learned in his three seasons in the league is don鈥檛 get too high or too low.

鈥淚 just learned there鈥檚 gonna be lots of ups and downs in the season. It鈥檚 a long season, 82 games. It鈥檚 not always gonna go well for the team, for you personally. You鈥檙e gonna have rough games, the team鈥檚 gonna have rough games and rough stretches and you鈥檝e just got to look through that and just realize that you鈥檙e gonna work out of it and not to get too frustrated and down on yourself. Just keep pushing, keep working and you鈥檒l get through it.鈥�

Cozens signed a seven-year, $47.7 million contract extension on Feb. 7.

鈥淚t felt really good to be locked up long-term like that,鈥� said Cozens. 鈥淚 know that I鈥檓 going to be in Buffalo for at least the next seven years.鈥�

When it came to celebrating his new contract with a big purchase, Cozens is definitely a Yukoner at heart.

鈥淚 bought a nice fishing boat for me and the family to be able to go out on when I come back home. So I鈥檓 really excited about that. Hoping to get out on that soon.鈥�

Cozens was asked how he feels about being a role model for young hockey players in the Yukon.

鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to see myself as that,鈥� he replied. 鈥淚 just come back here and think of myself as a normal guy. But when I think about it more and just thinking of the kids that look up to me, it鈥檚 pretty special to be the guy that was the first one to kind of pave that way a bit. It means a lot to me and you know, I want to be a role model to kids up here. I want to show kids that even if we come from a smaller town up here that you can make it. It鈥檚 tough because I don鈥檛 really see myself as that but when people tell me that all these kids look up to me, it鈥檚 pretty surreal.鈥�

Cozens had some kind words for another young Yukon phenom, Gavin McKenna, who鈥檚 good buddies with Cozens鈥� younger brother Luke.

鈥淚鈥檝e actually been at the gym with him the last few days. I鈥檝e got to work out with him and talk to him a bit. It鈥檚 pretty special. Obviously being the first overall pick in the WHL, and the performance he put on when he was playing there.

鈥淗e鈥檚 an unbelievable talent and he鈥檚 got a very bright future ahead of him for sure. So I鈥檓 excited to watch his career.鈥�

Regarding the near future, Cozens has decided not to play in the World Championships this year.

鈥淚 decided this year it鈥檚 probably better for me to take a break and get back and spend some time with my family, as I鈥檝e got a few little minor injuries going on. I thought it鈥檇 be best to just let them heal.鈥�

As for his goals for next season, Cozens said, 鈥淔or me personally, I just want to improve on last year. I was really happy with my season I had personally, but I just want to keep building and getting better and improve all parts of my game.

鈥淭eam-wise, I think playoffs is the goal and if we don鈥檛 make playoffs, it鈥檚 gonna be a very disappointing season for us.鈥�

Cozens is looking to improve on his game in a few areas.

鈥淚 want to keep getting better on face-offs. That鈥檚 very important.鈥�

Cozens also listed puck battles along the wall (boards) and puck protection as areas for improvement.

As far as long-term goals go, Cozens said, 鈥淥bviously, the main goal that comes to mind is I want to win the Stanley Cup. I mean, that鈥檚 everyone鈥檚 goal. And that鈥檚 something I believe we can achieve in Buffalo and I believe that we will achieve it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a matter of time and as long as we keep improving, I think that鈥檚 something that we will do as a team.鈥�

鈥� With files from Diego Brisebois-Bourget.