@boosbuzzsabres
There was huge groundswell of emotion touting at least a nine-day, NHL trial-run for 2019 first round draft pick Dylan Cozens as he showed very well in training camp this year. However, it was all for naught as the Buffalo Sabres announced today that the 18 yr. old center will be headed back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League to further his development in Canadian Junior.
At 6'3" 191 lbs., Cozens has a good NHL frame and he displayed some great skating ability and skills throughout training camp. However, the team thought it best he go back to junior and this is how Sabres head coach framed the decision while talking with the gathered media today (via John Vogl tweets):
"This decision today is about the development and future of an outstanding young man and athlete. It's maybe some pain for him at the moment, but there's a pace and there's an intensity to the National Hockey League season that we just didn't feel he was quite ready for. We believe he's going to come back and make a very hard push for being part of this team next year."
People may have forgotten that 2014 second-overall pick Sam Reinhart was sent down by the Sabres his draft year. Reinhart went back to Kootenay and was expected to add some weight and continue to hone his craft. He did just that fitting in workouts whenever he could while also dominating with 105 points (36+69) in 60 games, tying him for fourth-overall in the WHL. Although he treaded water a bit his first three NHL seasons, Rienhart never looked out of place and his subtle skills were on display most of the time he was with the Sabres.
It's best to remember that Buffalo general manager Jason Botterill leans heavily towards development so it's not surprising that Cozens, who outperformed a number of players older than him at training camp, was sent back to junior. One can expect a Reinhart-like development path for Cozens this season, which includes a good shot at making the Canadian World Junior team, and if all goes well a spot on Buffalo's roster next season.
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It sure looks as if the Sabres have their top line to start the season. And it looks like a good one at that. We all know that Reinhart and center Jack Eichel oozed chemistry every time they hit the ice the past few seasons and nothing has changed so far in camp. About the only difference is their left winger. Last year Jeff Skinner did much of his 40-goal damage while playing on the top line with those two. Unfortunately for the Sabres, they had all their eggs in one basket with that trio.
The emergence of left winger Victor Olofsson this preseason has changed the dynamic of the Sabres top-six.
Eichel and Reinhart create and incredible amount of space on the ice and both possess deft passing skills providing perfect set-ups for a finisher. Skinner was that player last year as he found open space around the net and buried those opportunities. The beneficiary this year, at least to start, looks to be Olofsson.
The 24 yr. old will be entering his first full NHL season after playing 200 games the Swedish Hockey League, Sweden's top pro league, followed by another 66 games in the American Hockey League last season. Through it all he's learned to work his 5'11" 181 lb. frame into open areas to unleash an elite shot. Olofsson led the SHL with 27 goals before coming to North America last year and led the Rochester Americans last season with 30 goals. So far this preseason it looks as those goal-scoring skills will be transferring to the NHL.
In a nod to proper development as much (if not moreso) than individual skill, the former seventh-round pick (181st-overall, 2014) has matured into an NHL player a ton of confidence to match his skill-level. If he pans out, Olofsson is exactly the type of player that will make this team all the much better moving forward and he'll have a golden opportunity to meet or exceed his potential in Buffalo. Especially on a line with Eichel and Reinhart.
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The emergence of Olofsson means Skinner can drop to the second line. Who will be getting him the puck is another story but for now Buffalo's 40-goal scorer will add some punch to that line.
Forward Marcus Johansson was once again at center today for the morning skate and it looks as if a Skinner/Johansson duo will make up two-thirds of the second line. Which isn't bad if Johansson can hold the fort at a position he hasn't played regularly in a while.
Johansson is all-in on his new role and he doesn't look out of place. Chemistry between Skinner and Johansson needs some work but both are smart, talented player who've played in over 1,200 combined NHL games. However, finding that right-winger might be a different story. Last game Kyle Okposo and Evan Rodrigues, Buffalo's Swiss Army Knife up-front, played in that spot and at today's practice it was reported that Vladimir Sobotka was on that line.
Krueger might need to get a little lucky there but it looks as if he's got five of six top forwards in place for the season opener and unlike previous years, there's a lot of skill up there.
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