Dylan Cozens’ high-octane offense is high-risk for Senators – Hockey Writer – Ottawa Senators
When the Ottawa Senators executed a blockbuster trade at the 2025 trade deadline, sending Josh Norris and guard Jacob Bernard-Dock to the Buffalo Sabres, the organization wasn’t just looking to shake up. They are looking for a different type of engine to power their front six. They added Dylan Cozens, a player with a pedigree of breaking down games, but whose resume has been gathering dust in Western New York as of late.
Fast forward to the early stages of the 2025-26 season, and the rewards are good… but complicated.
Through the first 27 games of the season, Cozens has been arguably the most polarizing skater in the nation’s capital.
The renaissance of the offensive zone
There’s no denying the raw production. Cozens has hit the ground running, exactly the spark general manager Steve Staos was hoping for when initiating the trade. The “white horse star” scored 9 goals and 17 points in the first 27 games, and the current game pace is 27 goals. For perspective, that’s a far cry from the 14-goal pace he had last season in Buffalo.
This revival is no accident. Cozens looks different physically this season – quicker, sharper and more aggressive. Much of this is down to an offseason regimen that is exhausting just reading about it. Cozens spent the summer working with Senators director of player development Sam Gagner, focusing on “tireless” drills that significantly improved his skating pace.
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The result is players once again looking for the puck instead of waiting for it. Cozens talked about regaining confidence, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and attacking the middle of the ice. For a Senators team that has been guilty of playing too much on the perimeter at times, Cozens’ willingness to penetrate the paint is a breath of fresh air. He wins a whopping 53 percent of his faceoffs, securing possession and immediately looking to make plays on the ice.
“Minus” problem
However, hockey is a two-way sport, which is where Cozens’ assessment gets murky. While his offensive numbers are elite, his defensive numbers are concerning.
In those 27 games, Cozens had a minus-12 rating. While plus-minus is often considered an outdated statistic by the analytics community, in this specific context it fits a troubling trend. The Senators are 18-11 ahead in five-on-five games with Cozens on the court, according to Natural Stat Trick. Instead, Ottawa beat its opponent 47-38 when Cozens came off the bench.
It’s a clear difference, and it’s not just bad luck. This points to systemic issues with how his defensive line defends the transition game and sorts out coverage in its own zone. The eye test bears out the numbers: Cozens has been described by some observers as a liability in his own right, often caught watching the puck or cheating on offense at the expense of defensive positioning.
Cozzens’ Asylum Minute
For knowledgeable fans, when you see how Cozens are being deployed. Head coach Travis Green did not feed Cozens to the Wolves. The job falls to Shane Pinto, who has the heavy lifting – shutting down the opposing top line and handling difficult defensive zone starts. In comparison, Cozens’ matchup performance was more favorable.
judgment
Cozens is currently the “X-factor” in determining the Senators’ ceiling this season. He embraced the pressure of the Ottawa market, noting the upbeat atmosphere and his desire to meet the high standards of his fan base. He acknowledged the defensive lapses and claimed he was studying video to adapt to the Senators’ system.
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At this point, Cozens provides the speed and scoring prowess the Senators desperately need. But his five-on-five goal differential is concerning.
If he can step up defensively — and improve his defensive awareness — Ottawa has a real star on its hands. If not, they have the luxury of high scoring and he might give up as much as he creates.
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