The Nashville Predators are this season’s biggest disappointment. With a record of 8-17-6, they’re dead last in the league. Because Nashville’s struggles don’t completely make sense, General Manager Barry Trotz is going to try and add before tearing it all down and undergoing a rebuild.
Emma Lingen of The Hockey News names Nashville as a potential landing spot for Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens. Buffalo isn’t necessarily looking to make a trade, but both teams are desperate. Buffalo has lost ten straight games, and Nashville has been underperforming all season. This seems like a trade partnership made in heaven.
Dylan Cozens hasn’t lived up to the seven year– $7.1 million per– contract he signed after a career year in 2022-23. If the Sabres do end up making a “big move,” he’ll likely be the man out. He has 179 points in 311 career games played at the NHL level.
Why it would work
Cozens is just 23, and could immediately slot into Nashville’s top-six. His ability to play either center or wing would give the Predators flexibility, although they do need a second-line center. If Cozens can find his game, he could easily be a 31 goal, 68 point player like he was in 2022-23. He can play on the powerplay– which would be helpful, considering that Nashville’s is the 25th ranked powerplay in the league with an 18% success rate.
Why it wouldn’t work
Nashville doesn’t have enough salary cap space to take on Cozens’ full $7.1 million contract, so they’d have to send a player back the other way. Nashville is likely in too deep to make the playoffs this season, so adding another skill player might just result in them getting a lower draft pick. And, of course, if Cozens can’t regain his form, his $7.1 million cap hit would complicate any future contention dreams.
What he would cost
Cozens was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft. He’s just 23, and has been a 30 goal scorer before. Thus, he won’t be very cheap. Nashville likely won’t part with their first round draft pick– they’re projected to pick in the top three– but they have both Vegas and Tampa Bay’s first rounders. Cozens might be had for one of those first round picks, as well as a prospect or younger NHL roster player.
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