Cozens traded to Senators by Sabres for Norris, Bernard-Docker

Dylan Cozens and Dennis Gilbert were traded to the Ottawa Senators by the Buffalo Sabres on Friday for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Ottawa also received a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Cozens, a 24-year-old forward, is in the second year of a seven-year, $49.7 million contract ($7.1 million average annual value) he signed with Buffalo on Feb. 7, 2023. He has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 61 games this season.

"I think I'm a player that can play a strong two-way game and bring a physical side, and then also a shooting and playmaking side," Cozens said following the trade. "I want to be a player that's tough to play against, whether that's in the corners or in the face-off circle. ... I've got a lot more to prove now. Obviously, these last few years haven't gone great, but I'm excited to show the player I can be."

Selected by Buffalo with the No. 7 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Cozens has 197 points (77 goals, 120 assists) in 341 regular-season games.

"It's obviously sad, you know, a lot of good buddies here, a lot of close friends," Cozens said of his time in Buffalo. "I really wanted to be a part of the solution in Buffalo. I dreamt every day about being a part of a good team in Buffalo, playing in the playoffs in Buffalo, so it's tough, it's sad, for sure. But at the same time, there's a very exciting opportunity in Ottawa and I'm super excited to be a part of the Sens."

Cozens and Senators goalie Linus Ullmark played one season together in Buffalo in 2020-21.

"He's a great kid, a young centerman that [Buffalo] hasn't really been getting everything out of him, I would say," Ullmark said. "He has a lot of potential. I think he's a very good two-way player that [has] a lot of potential. I'm hoping that we can help him thrive in this environment, getting him up to snuff as quickly as possible."

Gilbert signed a one-year $825,000 contract with Buffalo on July 1, 2024, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The 28-year-old defenseman has five assists in 25 games this season and 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 107 regular-season games for the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and Sabres since he was selected by Chicago in the third round (No. 91) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

"As far as Dylan goes, he's a big centerman that can score and can play a physical game as well, Senators coach Travis Green said. "A young centerman that has a huge upside in the League. You get toughness in Dennis ... and a player that's hard to play against. If you're going to make a trade like that, you're going to obviously have to give up some good players as well."

Norris is in the third season of an eight-year, $63.6 million contract ($7.95 million AAV) he signed with the Senators on July 14, 2022. The 25-year-old forward has 33 points (20 goals, 13 assists) in 53 games this season.

"The last couple of years have not gone the way I wanted with injuries and stuff," Norris said Saturday. "But I have managed to stay healthy this year. I really appreciate the opportunity they are giving me here. … It happened pretty quickly yesterday, before practice. It was a weird day, for sure. Have a lot of friends in Ottawa, but I am really excited to be here. It is always a team that is not easy to play against, a lot of elite skills. I am excited to get going here, it’s a fresh start for me."

The No. 19 pick by Ottawa in the 2017 NHL Draft, Norris has 156 points (90 goals, 66 assists) in 236 regular-season games.

"Yeah, it's pretty tough," Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said. "It [stinks] losing a guy like [Norris]. Obviously, everybody knows how much he means to me. Just spent the last little bit with him and I'll kind of take advantage of every minute for the rest of the day. ... Tough practice today."

Bernard-Docker is in the last of a two-year, $1.61 million contract ($805,000 AAV) he signed with Ottawa on July 1, 2023, and can become a restricted free agent. The 24-year-old defenseman has four points (one goal, three assists) in 25 games this season.

The No. 26 pick by Ottawa in the 2018 NHL Draft, Bernard-Docker has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 129 regular-season games.

The Senators (31-25-5) hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa also acquired forward Fabian Zetterlund from the San Jose Sharks on Friday along with a fourth round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for forwards Noah Gregor, Zack Ostapchuk and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft.

Zetterlund has 34 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 64 games this season and 111 points (50 goals, 61 assists) in 227 regular-season games for the Sharks and Devils.

The Sabres (24-31-6) are last in the East, 13 points behind the Senators for the second wild card.

"It's the unfortunate reality of it being a business," Tkachuk said. "We're getting back important pieces that are really going to help us. I mean, it [stinks]. It's part of it, but with 'Cozy' and Gilbert, we're going to welcome them with open arms. I feel bad a little bit that this is the initial reaction and of course I think they're going to understand why it's a little bit of a whirlwind for me personally, but with that being said, it's all about being a good captain, being a good teammate and making sure that they have everything that they need and have the support right from Day 1. They're going to be important pieces to our team."

On Friday, the Sabres also signed Jason Zucker to a two-year, $4.75 million contract ($2.375 million AAV). The 33-year-old forward could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

They also traded forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel to the New York Rangers for defenseman Erik Brannstrom, and defenseman Henri Jokiharju to the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

NHL.com independent correspondents Callum Fraser and George Richards contributed to this report