Mike Harrington: The objectives stopped coming however Dylan Cozens stored pushing and could be a breakout participant

If wholesome, Mittelstadt will produce a lot more subsequent season. But when you need an actual breakout candidate, a man with 30-goal capacity out of nowhere like we noticed this yr with Tage Thompson, the selection right here can be Dylan Cozens.

Let’s no longer omit the satisfaction of the Yukon scored 72 objectives over his ultimate two seasons of junior hockey with Lethbridge of the WHL. So he wasn’t pleased with a 13-goal, 38-point efficiency in his first complete NHL season.

Particularly whilst you imagine he hit the all-star smash with 11 objectives – however then had simply two over the overall 37 video games.

“I used to be getting a lot of possibilities the second one part, they only were not reasonably discovering the again of the web for me,” Cozens mentioned Sunday in KeyBank Heart. “As irritating because it used to be, I attempted to concentrate on the certain issues. I feel the second one part I in reality more or less stepped up my defensive recreation and reliability. That is one thing as a tender man, I wish to be dependable and depended on within the defensive zone and so as to move available in the market in a detailed recreation with a few mins left.”

Even with out discovering the web, Cozens used to be using offense. He used to be a magnet to the puck in numerous late-season video games and had 20 pictures on target during the last 5. In March and April, he had only one target on 57 pictures. Previous to that time, his capturing share used to be a good 11.6%.

“We have now all scored objectives in our existence and particularly him,” mentioned Casey Mittelstadt, who spent a while on Cozens’ wing on the finish of the season. “He is scored so much. He is aware of the best way to ranking. And if he assists in keeping getting the ones possibilities, they are gonna get started falling in. And I assume they will are available in bunches.”

Cozens mentioned no longer getting possibilities in any respect would consume at him extra however famous an offseason level of emphasis together with his shot might be to refine his completing method.

“The goalies are that significantly better and I feel a large factor for me that I’ll paintings on so much is solely getting the pictures in the course of the defenseman and clear of their stick,” he mentioned. “Get them off as fast as conceivable so the goalie has much less time to react. I feel my shot is difficult sufficient to overcome goalies within the NHL. You must exchange the attitude, that quickness.”

Cozens used to be taken at No. 7 within the 2019 draft and debuted right through the pandemic season in empty constructions and most effective touring within the East. So there have been some eye-opening journeys for him this yr.

“It used to be much more amusing evidently to move out, enjoy new towns and get to move out to consume at the street,” he mentioned. “It used to be more or less like a rookie yr far and wide once more.”

Trainer Don Granato has driven Cozens to turn extra deception with the puck, not to center of attention on one transfer, one shot and looking to stickhandle thru a couple of defenders. Protective the puck and no longer exposing is a ability gamers like Chicago’s Patrick Kane focus on. At 6-foot-3, Cozens can recuperate in that house.

Granato mentioned ultimate week he loved throwing new abilities and ways at younger gamers like Cozens and Peyton Krebs and seeing them grasp them.

“I lose a really feel for the way a lot they have got come alongside as a result of I am at all times enthusiastic about what can I give them subsequent now,” Granato mentioned. “You give him one thing and a recreation or two later you are like, ‘OK, I’m going to give him one thing new now. They have were given that. They have absorbed that, can upload that to their recreation.’ That continues with Dylan and it is thrilling to have a child that proficient with a ceiling nonetheless as prime as we really feel it’s.”

Cozens mentioned he will at all times bear in mind the workforce’s Heritage Vintage win over Toronto, the sport that featured his crunching take a look at on Auston Matthews, and taking the shot that Mittelstadt scored at the rebound of in Friday’s finale towards Chicago. It gave play-by-play guy Rick Jeanneret yet another extra time winner to name ahead of heading into retirement.

“It’s large to be part of that,” he mentioned. “You spot the make stronger, the affection that RJ will get right here in Buffalo. He’s in point of fact a legend on this town, as a way to have my title as a part of that ultimate name is beautiful particular. I’m so glad that we were given that win that night time. Simply to cap it off in extra time makes it even higher.”

After taking part in 79 video games this season, Cozens is making plans every other summer season of coaching in London, Ont., however gets house to the Yukon for some R&R.

“Being the place I am from, I am getting to move out and be in the course of nowhere and not using a (mobile) carrier and move available in the market and hunt and fish and do no matter,” he mentioned. “I am tremendous thankful for that. That is simply how I in reality more or less unwind and escape from the entirety.”

And Cozens is aware of when he comes again within the fall, he is being counted on as a key core participant.

“I like town. I like the group. I like this workforce. I like everybody right here,” he mentioned. “So I wish to be right here for a long time and to be considered as one of the crucial core guys. Everybody in that room issues for this workforce. … I wish to do very particular issues right here. And we are all going to do it in combination.”