The Buffalo Sabres squeaked out a 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators in a crucial Divisional battle on Tuesday night, with points at a premium in the ever-tight Atlantic.
However, that wasn’t all that made it an important night in the nation’s capital; it also marked Josh Norris’ first game back in Ottawa since the blockbuster trade from last year’s deadline.
Norris was, of course, sent to Buffalo along with Jacob Bernard-Docker in exchange for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a 2026 second-round pick. While it was a five-asset deal on paper, the headline was the swap of Norris and Cozens—two highly drafted centers in need of a fresh start.
Norris struggled to stay healthy during his time as a Sen, most notably dealing with recurring shoulder issues, while Cozens saw his play and production dip after a career-best 68-point campaign (31 goals, 37 assists) in 2022–23. As a result, both organizations felt a change of scenery was necessary for everyone involved.
Josh Norris Dylan Cozens trade
Unfortunately, Norris has faced similar health concerns during the early stages of his time in Buffalo, while Cozens has appeared rejuvanted upon arriving in Ottawa. That said, since returning to the lineup, Norris has been a catalyst in the Sabres’ recent success, which has reignited chatter about who won the trade, and that continued on Tuesday night when the two went head-to-head.
“There’s no debate that when healthy, Josh Norris is a better player than Dylan Cozens. They’re both highly skilled and the trade has been a win-win so far for both franchises. The key is that Norris needs to stay on the ice,”
The 26-year-old Norris is in year four of the eight-year, $63.6 million extension he signed with the Senators back in 2022, while Cozens, 24, is in the third season of the seven-year, $49.7 million deal he inked in Buffalo in 2023.
Assuming Health, Josh Norris-Dylan Cozens Swap Benefits Both Sides
If Norris can stay healthy—and that’s a big if—then both the Sabres and Senators should reap the rewards of this swap now and in the years ahead.
Cozens has rediscovered the hard-nosed style of play that suits him best, while still providing enough offense to be a legitimate second-line center behind Tim Stutzle. Ottawa needed more reliability, and that’s exactly what they’ve gotten so far from the Whitehorse, Yukon, native.
Meanwhile, although Norris comes with plenty of risk—something Buffalo has already seen firsthand—there’s no denying that when available, he raises the team’s ceiling with his higher upside. The Sabres have been stuck in purgatory for 15 years, so taking calculated swings on high-end talent is one way to try to break out of it. Otherwise, they’ll risk remaining stuck in the murky middle or below it.
There will be conversations and debates about this trade for years to come, and ideally, as both franchises move forward, we’ll see the Sabres and Senators square off in the postseason from time to time to further fuel them.
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