The Detroit Red Wings have been linked to Dylan Cozens and one trade pitch has them acquiring the star forward from the Buffalo Sabres.
The website PuckPedia‘s PuckGM tool lets users create their own trades. One userproposed a deal that would see the Red Wings acquiring Cozens from the Sabres in a four-player deal.
Red Wings acquire:
Sabres acquire:
The four-player deal does make sense as Detroit and Buffalo are both looking to end their playoff droughts and swap star players.
Detroit would acquire Cozens who’s in the second year of his seven-year $49.7 million deal. Cozens could replace DeBrincat and add some scoring to the lineup. With the Sabres this season, he’s recorded 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 52 games.
Helenius, meanwhile, was selected 14th overall by the Sabres in the 2024 NHL draft. Helenius would add some youth to the Red Wings and could compete for a roster spot next season.
In return, Detroit would deal DeBrincat who’s in the second year of his four-year $31.5 million deal. DeBrincat is a better offensive player than Cozens and could help the Sabres get over the hump. He’s recorded 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points in 53 games.
Buffalo would acquire James who was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL draft. He’s currently playing college hockey at North Dakota and is unsigned.
Red Wings Interested in Cozens
Detroit has shown interest in Cozens as his name has come up in trade talks.
With Buffalo outside of a playoff spot, the Sabres have been rumored to be involved in trade talks.
“I believe the Buffalo player the Red Wings were (are?) looking at is Dylan Cozens,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote.
Whether or not Buffalo will actually trade Cozens is to be seen. But, his name has come up in trade rumors, and perhaps Detroit will end up trading for him.
