Dylan Cozens was 18 years old when the Buffalo Sabres selected the Center with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
The teenager continued to play in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a further year, where he notched up 85 points in 51 games (38 goals, 47 assists).
Along with fellow Sabre Jack Quinn, Cozens went on to win Silver at the World Junior U20 Championships to start 2021. Unlike the former though, he was impressive in his seven matches, scoring eight goals and recording the same number of assists.
Jack Quinn is still only 19 years old himself and was recently selected as the eighth overall pick in last year’s draft. He was actually named on the main roster to start the season before being moved to the taxi squad.
The winger doesn’t look physically ready to compete in the NHL and a move to a development league will likely be the move by Ralph Krueger and co as the season goes on. Quinn is currently far short of making any impact in the NHL to help our odds shorten as outsiders to Stanley Cup contenders. Sportsbook bet-maine are one of many that have us at odds against just to reach the playoffs currently.
As for Cozens, the 19-year-old has featured in five of our first seven games, recently scoring his first NHL goal, against the Washington Capitals. He has an assist to his name too.
Although he sat out of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the New York Rangers, Cozens is set to feature a lot over the course of the season and could prove to be a key rotation player for us. The more impressive performances and the more points he tallies up, the more game time he will be given.
Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers)
As for the rest of the league, one of the top prospects just a few weeks ago was New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. The 25-year-old has made a dismal start to the campaign, going 0-2-1.
The pressure is now starting to build on the Russian, who had a very impressive .934 save percentage in the AHL last season. The Rangers themselves currently prop up the East Division with a 1-4-1 record, which isn’t going to help build confidence.
Alexis Lafreniere (New York Rangers)
If any rookie is to expect early pressure in the NHL this season, then the number 1 pick in the draft three months ago has to be that man. Alexis Lafreniere was taken by the New York Rangers and has played in all six of New York’s games. The left-winger is yet to record a single point.
Still only 19 years old, there’s no need for the fans or media to get on his back just yet, but we’re talking about the Big Apple here, so of course they are.
It doesn’t help that Minnesota Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov has started his NHL career with six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in six games, and New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith similar (1 goal, 5 assists) in only five games.
Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators)
The Ottawa Senators took a German forward with the third overall pick in 2020 to join a big overhaul in Canada.
So far the 19-year-old has featured in just three games but does already have a goal to his name, against Toronto.
It’s hard to judge the teenager so far given how little playing time he has had.
As for Dylan Cozens, he’s going under the radar with the rest of the league, but his performances have been very impressive that the league would be shouting about him if he played down the road in New York…