Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – When Dylan Cozens showed up to play for Team Canada in this year’s World Championship in Finland, he had never played left wing before.
I have to tell you, I was more than shocked when he lined up at left wing for the opening faceoff of Canada’s first game back in May.
Not only was Cozens at a position he had never played, he was on the top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Winnipeg Jets. Those two were consistently Canada’s best players and led them to the silver medal.
Cozens, Dubois and Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak led the tournament with seven goals each in 10 games played. Cozens was third in tournament scoring with 13 points. The 21-year-old took a lot of confidence out of that experience in Finland.
“That tournament was really good for me to get some confidence to go into the summer and into next season," said Cozens on Thursday.
"To go over there and play a new position, to play on the power play and to score a good amount of goals, I was really happy with that."
To just pick up a new position and to be one of the best players in the World Championship is something the Sabres forward takes pride in.
“It’s definitely a lot different than I’m used to, picking up most passes on the backhand and attacking from the off-side, but I liked it a lot," Cozens admitted. "It gave me the opportunity to open up for shots and be the guy that they kick the puck out to on the wall, and I get to attack with more of a shooting mentality.”
Before Sweden played Canada in the tournament, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin took a fun jab at Cozens in a Swedish newspaper, saying he knows how to make Cozens mad and get him off his game. Cozens enjoyed the friendly trash talk.
“It didn’t work out too well for him, I guess, but it was fun playing against those guys and having an exciting game like that, where it was almost out of reach for us. But we found a way to battle back and win," Cozens said with a laugh.
Fellow Sabres teammate Rasmus Asplund was also on Team Sweden with Dahlin.
Cozens and Dahlin are the best of friends, and he said they had a good time playing against each other.
“It was fun," Cozens said. "We were always chirping out there, and you want the best for him. But you also want to make him look silly a little bit.”
When the World Championship was over, Cozens made a side trip to Sweden to visit Dahlin at his home. Cozens really enjoyed the whole experience.
"It was my first time getting to go to Europe and not just play hockey. It was really fun just hanging out with 'Dahls' and just having a week where we weren’t training, just going around and doing stuff," he said. "He showed me where he's played and lived in his life, so that was really cool.”
Cozens didn’t know what to expect when making the trip to Sweden, but says it's kind of similar to being in North America.
"It’s not one of the ones that’s crazy different, but it was really cool seeing the way people do things over there,” Cozens said.
During Sabres Development Camp in July, Cozens drove to Buffalo from London, Ontario, where he trains with Jacob Bryson. While here, he sat during two different practices talking to this year’s ninth overall pick, Matt Savoie, as well as talking to many of the other young players after practice. Savoie really appreciated that Cozens would take the time to do that.
“It was easy for me, and I know when I was his age coming in, older guys coming to talk to me felt really good," Cozens said. "I thought it was something that I could easily do to show my face, and to show the younger prospects that we’re excited to have them here and excited to see what they can do to help this team.”
Cozens admits he wishes he could’ve seen Savoie on the ice, but the youngster had to miss all the on-ice activities with a shoulder injury. However, Cozens was very impressed with Savoie from a personal standpoint.
“He seems like a great guy," he said. "I played in the same league as he does, the WHL, and I know people that know him. They’ve all said I’m going to love him a lot. He seems like a really good kid, and he’s really excited to be here.”
Cozens taking the time to drive two-and-a-half hours just to talk to the young prospects shows the type of leader he is at the age of 21. It really seems it comes naturally to him.
“I want to set an example on and off the ice through my actions, and then with words, as well," Cozens said. "But I want to be a leader, and I want to help guys and be there for guys. I take a lot of pride in that.”
I asked Cozens that now that he’s back in Buffalo, is he getting ramped up for the season yet. He sounds like he’s ready for a game tomorrow.
“Just being back here, I can’t wait to get the season going again," Cozens said. "I think we’re all on the same page. We just can’t wait to get started.
“With how last year finished off, and with that last half there, if we played like that the full year, we could’ve been a playoff team. So that’s definitely our goal this year, and we all believe we can do it.”
Sabres head coach Don Granato wouldn’t commit to who is going to play center and who is going to play on the wing. Granato was an assistant coach for Team USA at the World Championship, so he was in Finland with Cozens. You can probably guess, he was ecstatic that Cozens was playing a new position with Canada.
“The adaptability is key, and I love it when guys can increase their adaptability," Granato said. "We want our guys playing all different positions, but with Dylan, not only playing that wing, but seeing he can be successful there is awesome for me to see.”
Hear more of my 1-on-1 with Cozens in the player below:
Casey Mittelstadt told us in his exit interview that he’s fine playing center or wing. Granato talked to Mittelstadt about that on Tuesday.
“I spoke to him about his time on the wing last year, and loves and has studied some things on the wing," he said of the 23-year-old. "I told him, 'You’re going to play wing or center,' and I want him to have that flexibility in his game.”
The Sabres report to training camp on Sept. 21 and hit the ice on the 22nd.
