As the Buffalo Sabres stumbled their way through another season, GM Kevyn Adams’ job security has been called into question.
He took one step toward changing all of that by making a major roster move in advance of the NHL trade deadline. Buffalo dealt young center Dylan Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a second-round draft pick in 2026 to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for center Josh Norris and blueliner Jacob Bernard-Docker.
This trade shapes up to be a win-win for Ottawa and Buffalo – but it’s also a gamble for both teams.
Adams and the Sabres are gambling on Norris staying healthy. The 25-year-old has never played more than 66 games in a single season in his previous four NHL campaigns. But this year, Norris has appeared in 53 games, posting 20 goals and 33 points – his best totals on offense since he generated 35 goals and 55 points in 2021-22.
Meanwhile, the Senators are also gambling with this move – namely, that the 24-year-old Cozens can pull out of the season-long skid that hurt his stock on the trade market. Cozens currently has 11 goals and 31 points in 61 games, but he’s two years removed from a 31-goal, 68-point season. He has the highest potential of any player in the deal and can play a more physical game for the Senators. A fresh start with a playoff-contending team in Ottawa could be just what the doctor ordered to reinvigorate his NHL career.
Cost-certainty was also important to Adams and Sens counterpart Steve Staios, and they’re both getting that in this trade. Cozens is signed through 2029-30 at $7.1 million per season, white Norris is also under contract through the 2029-30 campaign at $7.95 million per season.
Buffalo has a whopping $28.39 million in cap space after this deal, while Ottawa has only $1.68 million in space, so the Senators were still able to shake things up with a money-in, money-out deal.
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However, make no mistake – this trade is one of Adams’ last chances to jolt this squad into being a playoff team next season. The Sabres aren’t going to do much the rest of the way this year, but if Norris comes in and shows he was worth the deal, Adams will stay on the job in Western New York. But if that doesn’t happen, there will be a new Buffalo GM before too long.
Staios, on the other hand, does have job security in Ottawa. But like Adams, he’s taking on a great amount of risk, with an equal amount of upside.
Both GMs were under pressure to improve their squads. At best, both teams will see improvements in a tight Atlantic Division.
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