The Toronto Maple Leafs would have the interest of a new commercial target before the deadline of March 7.
According to reports from the NHL NHL Kevin Weekes, the Leafs are among several teams expressing their interest in acquiring the center of Buffalo Sabers Dylan Cozens, He said on x Wednesday.
The club joins the Montreal Canadians, the Flames de Calgary and the Red Wings of Detroit while the teams kept an eye on the 23 -year -old.
Cozens is currently in the second year of a $ 49.7 million contract over seven years with Buffalo and is signed during the 2029-30 season with an annual ceiling of $ 7.1 million. However, he has no commercial protection before 2027-28, making him a viable sales candidate if the sabers decide to move him.
Related: Report: Maple Leafs targeting “affordable centers” before the NHL trade deadline
Toronto is currently in second position in the Atlantic division with 66 points. In previous months, reports have surfaced that the team actively seeks to strengthen its central depth before the playoffs. The injuries tormented the Leafs throughout the season, and the director general Brad Treliving expressed his desire to acquire a center with a term rather than a short -term rental, making Cozens an achieveable possibility.
“If there is one (center) that corresponds, reliable on both sides of the washer, certainly someone who can add the offense, all these types of things. What you want and sometimes what is available is two different things. We will therefore continue to search, ”said Treliving in January, referring to the depth of the team center.
Cozens, an electrical advantage of 6 feet 3 inches and 194 pounds, posted 10 goals, 16 assists and 26 points in 53 games this season while making an average of 17:24 of ice per game. Although this is considered a year of decline for the choice of first round 2019, planned for only 40 points, its history is strong and it offers many advantages, with 76 goals, 116 assists and 192 points in 333 games in Career in NHL – All with Buffalo.
As for the sabers, they sits eighth in the Atlantic with only 49 points and well released from a place in the playoffs. It is important to note that the club has not publicly declared its desire to separate from Cozens.
If Toronto was to continue a business with Buffalo, everything considered, given his age, his size and his contract, the sabers would probably require a significant yield – potentially a set of prospects and the choice of high recovery.
The Leafs currently have about $ 3.8 million in ceiling space, not to mention a handful of players (Anthony Stolarz, Calle Jarnkrok and Jani Hakanpaa) still on the long -term injured reserve – which means that pieces should be mixed.
If its services become available, there will undoubtedly be a strong auction war to acquire the promising striker.
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