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Dylan Cozens trade: “the Sabres are the NHL’s farm team”

After days, or even months of speculation, Dylan Cozens has finally been traded.

He goes from the Sabres to the Ottawa Senators in a rather special transaction. At first, this transaction was somewhat logical: Cozens for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. But a few minutes later, the two teams made it official and Ottawa received Denni Gilbert AND a second-round pick in 2026, in addition to Cozens. It’s incomprehensible!

Moreover, Renaud Lavoie describes the Sabres as the training club of the NHL.

It’s hard to disagree with his words, because this trade is extremely bizarre from Buffalo’s point of view.

Bob Hartley also made similar comments.

The team doesn’t improve either in the short or long term. I don’t know what the plan is there and honestly, I don’t think Kevyn Adams will start next season as the team’s GM.

“The training club of the NHL” is barely an exaggeration. When a good player is no longer producing in Buffalo, he gets traded and often, if not always, he explodes with his new team. This was the case with Jack Eichel (Golden Knights), Ryan O’Reilly (Blues), Brandon Montour and Sam Reinhart (Panthers). They all won the Stanley Cup with their new team in the following years.

Linus Ullmark never won the Stanley Cup in Boston, but after leaving Buffalo, he was one of the best goalies in the NHL, won a Vezina and was one of the main contributors to the best season in history a few years ago.

Will Cozens follow in the footsteps of all these guys? We hope not. But it remains that a change of air will do him good. Especially since the Senators are in the playoff race.

In the meantime, I would like to offer my thoughts to Josh Norris. He lived through the years of misery in the national capital and as soon as his team starts to be good, he gets traded to one of the worst organizations in the NHL.

Brady Tkachuk is also affected by the transaction.

For the fans of the training club of the NHL, it must be tough. At RDS, François Gagnon can’t explain this transaction from the Sabres’ side. Marc Denis showed a bit more restraint – the GM is a friend and former teammate -, but he was visibly shocked by this trade, which will continue to make waves for a long time.

And TVA Sports added to it on X with a poll.

Where are the Sabres headed?

Your answer is as good as mine.

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$20 million for Johnathan Kovacevic with the Devils

After having a very quiet morning in the National Hockey League, things are now unfolding this afternoon with the trade deadline approaching.

Whether it’s Mikko Rantanen or Dylan Cozens, we’ve really had quite a day so far, and there are still two hours left before 3 pm.

So it’s a big day, on several levels, as contract extensions are also being handed out, as was the case a few minutes ago with a former Montreal Canadiens player.

In fact, Johnathan Kovacevic has just signed a huge five-year, $20 million contract extension with the Devils.

More details to come

Extension

It’s worth wondering seriously what the future holds for Simon Nemec with the Devils.

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Mikko Rantanen traded to the Stars with a $96M contract

Good. The nonsense is finally over!

Mikko Rantanen has been traded and has FINALLY agreed to the terms of a new contract with the Dallas Stars.

We’re talking about an eight-year deal at $12 million per season. That gives a total of $96 million for the duration of the contract:

Mikko Rantanen to Dallas, it made a lot of noise since last night.

But what was complicated was the negotiation of his new contract. Rantanen had big salary demands and ultimately, he managed to find common ground with his new team.

He will have only passed through Carolina, so…

After spending the majority of his career in Colorado, the forward now finds himself in Dallas.

Do I need to remind you that the Stars and the Avalanche are in the same division? It’s going to be interesting in the playoffs in the coming years!

More details to come…

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Joel Armia : if Anthony Beauvillier brought a 2nd round pick to the Penguins…

There is now a little less than 3 hours before the transaction deadline in the NHL. For now, the CH has not moved… but we know that can change.

Everything can change in one call, after all… and today, it’s more true than ever.

In the CH, in addition to a possible transaction to get a center (or a winger), we are also watching the case of Joel Armia, who is possibly the player on the team most likely to move. He is an upcoming autonomous player, and even if the Canadian does not make a fire sale, he could still sell at a good price.

And what’s interesting is to see the rest of the market. The case of Anthony Beauvillier, for example, is interesting, as the Penguins got a 2nd round pick for the Quebecer.

Last year, Beauvillier had brought back a 5th round pick. It shows well that it’s a sellers’ market.

And what we notice is that Beauvillier and Armia are two very comparable players. Beauvillier has 13 goals and 20 points this season, while Armia has 11 goals and 25 points on the counter.

It’s almost possible to argue that Armia has a greater value in the sense that he is a physical player who is a weapon in a numerical disadvantage, but overall, they look alike.

Does that mean that there’s a world in which Kent Hughes will be offered a 2nd round pick for Armia? Is that offer already on his table?

We’ll see how it all evolves, but depth players are worth a lot on the current market. We have to wonder if these offers will also be available for guys like David Savard and Christian Dvorak.

It almost makes you wonder what the CH could have gotten for Jake Evans… even if the decision to extend him was probably the right one considering the contract he signed.

In rafale

– The Stars don’t want to give more than $12M per year to Mikko Rantanen. It seems to be on the verge of collapsing on that side.

– Andrei Kuzmenko with the Kings.

– Ouch.

– Roberto Luongo jumped on the ice with the Panthers. No, he’s not going to join the team to finish the season.

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The Habs called for Dylan Cozens: let’s also watch a top-6 winger

Dylan Cozens has been traded to the Ottawa Senators.

The Canadiens were also interested in the services of the main player, but they did not have the immediate resources to help the Sabres.

Kent Hughes called the Sabres about the center player, according to Pierre LeBrun’s information:

Does this mean that Kent Hughes will not make any moves by the end of the day?

Not necessarily, no.

David Pagnotta, who was on BPM Sports, mentioned that the Canadiens may be looking to acquire a winger.

We know that the CH has a “problem” at center, but it’s interesting to know that they may be looking for a winger as well.

According to Pagnotta, there is a name in the NHL that is passing under the radar and could change addresses.

It’s Jordan Kyrou:

Apparently, Kent Hughes wants to help his players.

He is looking to improve the team by adding a player who can help this season and also in the long term… And it’s clear that the Canadiens’ position in the standings plays a role in the decisions of the GM in Montreal.

We know that the players also want help, they want to participate in the playoffs, they sent a message to their boss… Now, it remains to be seen if Hughes will be able to make a move to get some talent.

Extension

— Ah yes?

— That would be something.

— Good news for the Rocket.

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Dylan Cozens is getting in line to be traded to the Senators

Dylan Cozens is a player whose name has been circulating quite a bit in the NHL over the past few weeks.
I don’t know to what extent you had the Ottawa Senators in your crystal ball, but that’s clearly what’s happening in the Atlantic division.
Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker, who are not at the Senators’ training camp, will likely be headed to Buffalo in return.

The Senators need a helping hand offensively, but the Sabres won’t be giving it to them. It’s as if the Canadiens were going to make a trade involving Cole Caufield and Logan Mailloux, something like that…
The Sabres are clearly giving up again this year and focusing on the future. #EternalRebuild

More details to come…

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Kaiden Guhle skated this morning in Brossard

Kaiden Guhle has not played since January 28.

The Canadiens’ defenseman was cut and it really looked like it hurt.

Let’s also recall that his injury required surgery.

But now, there’s good news about the main person involved.

We still don’t know if he’ll be able to return to the game before the end of the season… but he was seen on the ice in Brossard this morning.

And that, we agree, is a good sign.

On Twitter, Nicolas Cloutier (TVA Sports) recalled that there was a risk of infection with an injury like that.

Seeing him skate today is really good news:

For his part, Renaud Lavoie reports that it’s a good sign for the end of the season.

The journalist does not rule out a return to the game before the end of the season:

Clearly, I don’t think I need to tell you that having Guhle back in the current circumstances would be huge.

The Canadiens are in the midst of a playoff run, after all. And Guhle, we know how much he helps the club when he’s healthy!

Ultimately, Guhle won’t be back in the game tomorrow because it’s his first time skating today since his injury.

We may need to be patient… But it’s also worth noting that Guhle skated with his full equipment today.

Again, this is a good sign.

In a nutshell

— To follow…

— Another good news.

— Nice contract.

— It’s buzzing in Boston. [RG Média]

— Oh yeah.

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Please, leave Wayne Gretzky alone

Humans are full of contradictions.

However, we live in peace with our contradictions because we manage to compartmentalize them and alleviate the cognitive dissonance that resonates when two things we defend or at least think are not compatible.

Alexander Ovechkin is on the verge of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record (894 goals scored in the regular season in the NHL). Ovechkin has 885 at the time of writing; he only needs nine to equal Gretzky (one more to surpass him).

With still about twenty games to play this season, the Capitals winger could become the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history before the end of April. He could even do it in fewer games than the Great One if he maintains a pace of 0.71 goals per game, which is exactly what he’s doing this season, scoring 0.7 goals per game.

Not many hockey fans want to see Ovechkin make history.

We want to see him break a record that we thought was impossible to break. Especially since there are almost a goal fewer scored per game today compared to Gretzky’s golden years, Ovechkin has been slowed down by one two lockouts and he got injured earlier this season.

In short, we almost all hope to see a Russian player break the record of the greatest Canadian player in NHL history.

I want to see Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s record.
(Credit: Getty Images)

Some people are uncomfortable seeing so many North Americans supporting a Russian whose social media profile picture was long a photo of Vladimir Putin and him…

I’m not one of those uncomfortable people, but they are (very) numerous…

But where human contradiction reaches its peak (politico-sporting), it’s when we hear people calling for the cancellation of Wayne Gretzky.

Why cancel Gretzky? Because he was seen alongside Donald Trump (Gretzky’s son-in-law is close to the Trump family), Trump would like to make him the Governor (American) of Canada, he saluted American players during the 4 Nations Tournament, and he wasn’t wearing a Canadian jersey that evening.

I was talking about contradiction just a few seconds ago: if we allow ourselves to applaud and cheer for Ovechkin, how can we at the same time call for a boycott or the cancellation of everything related to Wayne Gretzky: his wine, the street named after him, etc.?

It makes no sense.

Some will say it’s because Gretzky hasn’t spoken out to distance himself from Trump…

But I’m still waiting for Ovechkin to speak out and distance himself from Putin.

You know what? This contradiction can be explained by another concept, that of the recency bias.

For a few weeks now, public enemy #1 in Canada hasn’t been Vladimir Putin, it’s been Donald Trump. People have already compartmentalized Putin in their long-term memory, while they have Trump right in front of them in their less distant past.

You know what? I hope we don’t cancel anyone. Neither Ovechkin nor Gretzky. And that, sportingly speaking, we’ll applaud both when we have the chance.

Note that I talked about the Ovechkin – Gretzky contradiction on the Stanley25 podcast, with Georges and Gonzo on BPM Sports and with Jeff Fillion earlier this week. Each conversation took a different angle. Note to interested parties.

Ah yes… Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals will host the Red Wings tonight in Washington. Will the main man get a little closer to Wayne Gretzky?

Extension

After repeatedly writing the word Poutine, I’m starting to get hungry.

I think I’ll order a pizza from Salvatoré.

Ah no, it’s true, I shouldn’t do that.

Or at least, I shouldn’t say it. I have to do it in secret so I don’t get judged.

Oh how fragile and emotional we are in Quebec! And how well we compartmentalize with our Apple phones, our Tesla or gas-powered cars, our orders from shady Chinese websites, our American sports, our American restaurants…

But we definitely shouldn’t order pizza from Salvatoré; the guy thinks we’re subsidizing culture too much.

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Rumor Corner: negotiation pause between the Stars and Mikko Rantanen

Mikko Rantanen, if he’s traded, may be heading to Dallas. If nothing changes, at least.

However, it’s essential to note that for now, nothing is done. Why? Because if there is a trade, it would require a long-term contract extension in hand.

You know, what the Hurricanes haven’t done?

In fact, because salary negotiations have been put on hold for the moment, it’s unclear what will happen with this situation.

Will a middle ground be found?

Since Rantanen seems open to signing with Dallas, we can think that the problem is the amount of money. Will he get the $14 million per year he wants?

And will someone eventually give him what he wants?

Ryan O’Reilly to New Jersey?

The Nashville Predators are not eager to trade Ryan O’Reilly at any cost. Really not, even, considering that we feel he’s part of the solution in Nashville.

But that doesn’t stop teams from calling… including the Devils.

O’Reilly is still under contract for two years. And since the Devils (who are involved in a lot of trade chatter) already needed help at center before losing Jack Hughes for the rest of the season, it’s not a surprising rumor.

To be continued, but he has a good chance of staying put.

Elias Pettersson’s File

To what extent are the Vancouver Canucks willing to trade Elias Pettersson by 3 pm? I expect him to stay, but it doesn’t change the fact that his name is still circulating.

Cam Robinson reports that the Canucks are listening to what other teams have to say about Pettersson.

In a nutshell

— To be continued with the CH.

— Daniel Brière will be busy today.

— He shouldn’t leave New York today.

— Let’s keep an eye on the Oilers for Brad Marchand. [BPM Sports]

— The Hawks won’t trade him cheaply.

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Jets : “David Savard remains their main target”

The deadline for transactions, that’s where it’s happening. There are only a few hours left.

Naturally, we’ll be watching what the Canadiens will do. Will they sell players? Will they stick with the status quo? Will they make purchases to bring some help to the center, a position where the team is desperately in need? Will there be any salary retention?

We’ll also be monitoring how the Rocket will be affected. Which players will be assigned to Laval on paper to be eligible for the playoffs? Will Kent Hughes make any moves to bring in reinforcements?

But the main focus is on two guys: Joel Armia and David Savard.

From what we understand, Kent Hughes won’t make a move unless a second-round pick (at the very least) is involved. And even then, it doesn’t mean the veterans will automatically leave if Hughes has a good offer on the table.

The question is, how much will other teams try to acquire them.

And if we believe Cam Robinson, who works for Elite Prospects, the Jets (who have been linked to Armia and Savard recently) have the Quebec defenseman as their “main target” for the blue line.

Will Hughes want to make a move considering the position his team is in and knowing it would hurt the locker room? That’s a factor to consider in the equation.

After all, as Darren Dreger said this morning on TSN 690, there are teams that have the potential to make a move for the Canadiens’ players. That will make the management think…

Note that I have my doubts about the price being asked for Savard, who has slowed down, and for Armia, who was subjected to waivers last season. I know Armia is a transformed player and that his two-year contract changes things, but…

But we’re watching this today because the market is good for sellers.

In a hurry

– Unlike Jake Evans, he won’t be staying in Canada at a discount.

– What is the role of an agent on the trade deadline? [JdeM]

– Interesting.