If there is some silver lining here I think the Quinn pick does show a belief in Cozens being our 2C for a long time.
- Pegullaville

That's a thought.

This one was agonizing because Cozens doesn’t have a star-level quality that some of the six players that follow him on this list do. I can see outcomes for each of the next half dozen names in my ranking where they go on to have a higher ceiling than Cozens. Other things, like that Cozens is going to have to play behind Jack Eichel (while Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield have a more direct trajectory to the first line within their organizations) and may not reach his full ceiling as a result, can creep in and cloud your judgment if you let them, too.


maybe not, the athletic mentions he might not reach that ceiling, but he is gonna hit his floor.
- Mentalorgasm5

Cozens has elite speed. He is fast, not just in comparison to Sabres players but in terms of the NHL itself.

He is 6’3 and has the size to go with it.

He has the production in a tough WHL league to score goals in. Sure he may not have elite hands and look pretty but he’s got a great shot and can beat you in a variety of different ways.

I think the world of Zegras, I think he’s fantastic as well and I wouldn’t have bat an eyelash if we took him either.

I gave the slight edge to Cozens because I think he can be the better 200 foot player.

This one was agonizing because Cozens doesn’t have a star-level quality that some of the six players that follow him on this list do. I can see outcomes for each of the next half dozen names in my ranking where they go on to have a higher ceiling than Cozens. Other things, like that Cozens is going to have to play behind Jack Eichel (while Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield have a more direct trajectory to the first line within their organizations) and may not reach his full ceiling as a result, can creep in and cloud your judgment if you let them, too.

maybe not, the athletic mentions he might not reach that ceiling, but he is gonna hit his floor.
- Mentalorgasm5

Where in the above does it say he will not reach the 2nd line center level?

It talks about other players having a more clear path to being a first line player.

This one was agonizing because Cozens doesn’t have a star-level quality that some of the six players that follow him on this list do. I can see outcomes for each of the next half dozen names in my ranking where they go on to have a higher ceiling than Cozens. Other things, like that Cozens is going to have to play behind Jack Eichel (while Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield have a more direct trajectory to the first line within their organizations) and may not reach his full ceiling as a result, can creep in and cloud your judgment if you let them, too.


maybe not, the athletic mentions he might not reach that ceiling, but he is gonna hit his floor.
- Mentalorgasm5

2. Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge-WHL

Feb. 9, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 185 pounds

Tier: Elite/high-end bubble

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 60
Hockey Sense: 60
Shot: 60

Cozens was one of the top players in the WHL and for Canada’s U20 team on its run to gold. He’s a complete player. Cozens’ skating jumps out instantly especially for someone who is 6-foot-3. He can gain the zone with ease due to his speed, size and skill, and is able to circle the zone with the puck. He’s not a true top skill/playmaking-type, but he can show top-end flashes of hands and finding seams. Cozens has a great shot, and can score from mid-distance. He has great power in his game and when he uses his speed and frame to get to the net he’s a force, but he does drift to the perimeter trying to use his shot. Off the puck, he works hard, kills penalties and shows he could be a top two-way center in the NHL.

Cozens has elite speed. He is fast, not just in comparison to Sabres players but in terms of the NHL itself.

He is 6’3 and has the size to go with it.

He has the production in a tough WHL league to score goals in. Sure he may not have elite hands and look pretty but he’s got a great shot and can beat you in a variety of different ways.

I think the world of Zegras, I think he’s fantastic as well and I wouldn’t have bat an eyelash if we took him either.

I gave the slight edge to Cozens because I think he can be the better 200 foot player.
- Pegullaville

So now size matters?

And that is the probelem, he lacks elite hands. That's a pretty big hurtle to overcome.

Speed is awesome but I can list a bunch of sabres over the last 20 years who could fly but didn't have the hands to keep up with the legs. Several of them were 1st round picks too.

How many prospects have we locked in the top 6 over the last 10 years?

2. Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge-WHL

Feb. 9, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 185 pounds

Tier: Elite/high-end bubble

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 60
Hockey Sense: 60
Shot: 60

Cozens was one of the top players in the WHL and for Canada’s U20 team on its run to gold. He’s a complete player. Cozens’ skating jumps out instantly especially for someone who is 6-foot-3. He can gain the zone with ease due to his speed, size and skill, and is able to circle the zone with the puck. He’s not a true top skill/playmaking-type, but he can show top-end flashes of hands and finding seams. Cozens has a great shot, and can score from mid-distance. He has great power in his game and when he uses his speed and frame to get to the net he’s a force, but he does drift to the perimeter trying to use his shot. Off the puck, he works hard, kills penalties and shows he could be a top two-way center in the NHL.
- TheSabresTaco

That literally sounds like a 3rd liner. Great speed. Not a true play maker. Plays 200 foot game. Kills penalty.

That is the definition of a great 3rd liner in the NHL

Crazy thought. What if they believe that he has a higher ceiling than Rossi. Is it possible they believe that, and is it possible that Quinn achieves that.
- TheSabresTaco

It appears that is the case, else why make the selection as both were available.

The unrest comes from 3 main points, for me anyway:
1) nearly every prospect expert had Rossi significantly ahead of Quinn...seems like a missed opportunity to move down 1 - 5 spots and acquire addition draft capital...we all know they can use as much as possible.

2) Rossi and Quinn played on the same stacked team...with Rossi playing the more demanding position of C against a higher level of competition on Line 1. Quinn played W and took advantage of lesser competion on Line 2. Rossi out produced Quinn in both of the last 2 seasons; doubling Quinns output 2 seasons ago, while outpacing him by 31 points last season...4 more goals and 60 more assists...consistently higher production vs a spike in a draft (ala "contract") year.

3) Rossi is purported to be the most NHL-ready, has fiercely competitive nature, leadership qualities , can finish and set-up plays. Quinn plays wing and has similar intangibles...now the Sabres say they see C abilities in his game...sounds like a Mojo scenario just waiting to happen.

This Teams deserves all the "?" With their collective decision making until proven wrong. To date, THEY have not earned the benefit of doubt.

Now, it is what it is. I'm disappointed...but Go Sabres, Go Quinn!!!

That literally sounds like a 3rd liner. Great speed. Not a true play maker. Plays 200 foot game. Kills penalty.

That is the definition of a great 3rd liner in the NHL
- Mentalorgasm5

Or Jeff Carter, unless you want to ignore the part about his shooting ability.

So to sum up: Jack Quinn is Josh Allen, and Marco Rossi is Bo Callahan. He must have never seen the $100 bill that was left in the playbook.

So now size matters?

And that is the probelem, he lacks elite hands. That's a pretty big hurtle to overcome.

Speed is awesome but I can list a bunch of sabres over the last 20 years who could fly but didn't have the hands to keep up with the legs. Several of them were 1st round picks too.

How many prospects have we locked in the top 6 over the last 10 years?
- Mentalorgasm5

When you are fast as Cozens is but manage to stand 6’3 it does. Most players his height aren’t as fast as he is. Once his frame fills out that’s an interesting combo.

This one was agonizing because Cozens doesn’t have a star-level quality that some of the six players that follow him on this list do. I can see outcomes for each of the next half dozen names in my ranking where they go on to have a higher ceiling than Cozens. Other things, like that Cozens is going to have to play behind Jack Eichel (while Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield have a more direct trajectory to the first line within their organizations) and may not reach his full ceiling as a result, can creep in and cloud your judgment if you let them, too.

maybe not, the athletic mentions he might not reach that ceiling, but he is gonna hit his floor.
- Mentalorgasm5

The above literally sounds like a great 2nd line Center, not a 1st line Center.

That literally sounds like a 3rd liner. Great speed. Not a true play maker. Plays 200 foot game. Kills penalty.

That is the definition of a great 3rd liner in the NHL
- Mentalorgasm5

But he called him a top two way center.

It appears that is the case, else why make the selection as both were available.

The unrest comes from 3 main points, for me anyway:
1) nearly every prospect expert had Rossi significantly ahead of Quinn...seems like a missed opportunity to move down 1 - 5 spots and acquire addition draft capital...we all know they can use as much as possible.

2) Rossi and Quinn played on the same stacked team...with Rossi playing the more demanding position of C against a higher level of competition on Line 1. Quinn played W and took advantage of lesser competion on Line 2. Rossi out produced Quinn in both of the last 2 seasons; doubling Quinns output 2 seasons ago, while outpacing him by 31 points last season...4 more goals and 60 more assists...consistently higher production vs a spike in a draft (ala "contract") year.

3) Rossi is purported to be the most NHL-ready, has fiercely competitive nature, leadership qualities , can finish and set-up plays. Quinn plays wing and has similar intangibles...now the Sabres say they see C abilities in his game...sounds like a Mojo scenario just waiting to happen.

This Teams deserves all the "?" With their collective decision making until proven wrong. To date, THEY have not earned the benefit of doubt.

Now, it is what it is. I'm disappointed...but Go Sabres, Go Quinn!!!
- IonSabres

Couldn’t say it better myself.

Or Jeff Carter, unless you want to ignore the part about his shooting ability.
- kingcong39

Jeff Carter couldn't really kill penalties, and didn't have a 200 foot game. Pretty one dimensional. Richards was the PK player for a bit.

That literally sounds like a 3rd liner. Great speed. Not a true play maker. Plays 200 foot game. Kills penalty.

That is the definition of a great 3rd liner in the NHL
- Mentalorgasm5

And as Chris Berman likes to say, that's why they play the games.

Cozens is going to be who he is. It's up to the player and the organization as to how far he can take it.

Jeff Carter couldn't really kill penalties, and didn't have a 200 foot game. Pretty one dimensional. Richards was the PK player for a bit.
- Mentalorgasm5

So a complete 2nd line Center that has a great shot and can score goals? Sign me up.

It appears that is the case, else why make the selection as both were available.

The unrest comes from 3 main points, for me anyway:
1) nearly every prospect expert had Rossi significantly ahead of Quinn...seems like a missed opportunity to move down 1 - 5 spots and acquire addition draft capital...we all know they can use as much as possible.

2) Rossi and Quinn played on the same stacked team...with Rossi playing the more demanding position of C against a higher level of competition on Line 1. Quinn played W and took advantage of lesser competion on Line 2. Rossi out produced Quinn in both of the last 2 seasons; doubling Quinns output 2 seasons ago, while outpacing him by 31 points last season...4 more goals and 60 more assists...consistently higher production vs a spike in a draft (ala "contract") year.

3) Rossi is purported to be the most NHL-ready, has fiercely competitive nature, leadership qualities , can finish and set-up plays. Quinn plays wing and has similar intangibles...now the Sabres say they see C abilities in his game...sounds like a Mojo scenario just waiting to happen.

This Teams deserves all the "?" With their collective decision making until proven wrong. To date, THEY have not earned the benefit of doubt.

Now, it is what it is. I'm disappointed...but Go Sabres, Go Quinn!!!
- IonSabres

Some of your points I'm fine with, some are simply guesses (to us all). But I want to highlight this. That's absolutely true. They deserve nothing but skepticism. But I truly feel he has so much farther to go. And he's going to be sick.


https://ottawasun.com/spo...-in-top-10-by-sabres-wild

Can't wait for today

There's little doubt Rossi is the better player, today. But so was Casey Mittelstadt and Sammy Watkins and Marcell Dareus and Rasmus Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart (sorry to pick your scab Flacco) and Mikhail Grigorenko and and and.

Can't wait for today
- GERBE!!!75PTS

I have a good feeling Johnson and Samuelsson won't be picked at 38

Not sure if this has been posted

And reading between the lines, Adams seemed to acknowledge the Sabres would have had a dilemma on their hands to solve on the fly.

"The defensemen (in the first round) are very good players and project to be very good National Hockey League players," Adams said. "We did our homework. We knew how we felt about those guys, but I guess what I would circle back to is ... we are really, really excited that Jack Quinn was there at 8 for us to be able to take. When I was able to get the microphone and call that name, we were pretty excited."

I'm so glad they weren't given the opportunity to take a dman

I have a good feeling Johnson and Samuelsson won't be picked at 38
- TheSabresTaco

Sharing again for those interested in reading up on some promising players that are still available.

https://www.diebytheblade...sibilities-for-the-sabres

A whole round went by without picking Michael Thomas. 21 picks were made before Aaron Rodgers. 23 picks before David Pastrnak. Nikolay Zherdev was picked before Vanek, Perry, Getzlaf, Burns, Suter, Carter, Seabrook, Brown, Parise, Kesler, etc.

Because Nikolay Zherdev was more NHL ready.

I have a good feeling Johnson and Samuelsson won't be picked at 38
- TheSabresTaco

We decided to do that type of decision at pick 8 this year instead

Not sure if this has been posted




I'm so glad they weren't given the opportunity to take a dman
- jcragcrumple

I'd have been in the pouty corner.

*They are very good prospects