Cozens earns promotion, skates with Staal & Olofsson

Eric Staal came into the NHL as a 19-year-old first-round draft pick with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003. He leaned on captain Ron Francis, 40 years old and in his 16th and final season, as an example to guide him through those early days.
Staal, now 36 and in his 17th year, laughed Sunday at how things have seemingly come full circle. The veteran has been situated in the Buffalo dressing room next to Dylan Cozens, a 19-year-old first-round pick currently navigating his own rookie season.
"It's scary to think I was him back in the day," Staal said. "Time goes fast."

Cozens was promoted to a line with Staal and Victor Olofsson during practice on Sunday, a testament to the rookie's strong first two games. Playing alongside Cody Eakin and Tobias Rieder, Cozens impressed coach Ralph Krueger with his defensive commitment and his ability to hold up physically against Washington.
"He enjoys the coverage role," Krueger said. "He enjoys getting back. His tracking is very strong, he finds his inside position naturally. We were actually positively surprised with how he dealt with 1-on-1 battles.
"…. His offense and his ability to create and/or to score is certainly going to evolve off of this platform. First, we need to see the platform, and the platform is exciting. One of the bright spots, for sure, of our first two games."
Cozens was a late addition to camp after making a run with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, where his 16 points in seven games marked the highest total by a Canadian since Brayden Schenn in 2011. His involvement there allowed him to show up to camp already in game shape at a time while the majority of NHL players are shaking off rust.
Cozens has also benefitted from the long offseason, which he used to add on muscle after getting a taste of NHL physicality during the 2019 preseason. So far, he's been able to hold his own.
The most eye-opening aspect so far for Cozens has been the off-ice preparation of the players around him. It's the same lesson Staal picked up being around Francis and then Rod Brind'Amour during those early Carolina days.

"I think the biggest thing I've learned, picked up on is just how much guys take care of their bodies," Cozens said. "I think that's the biggest thing especially in a year like this [with] so many games in such a short period of time. I think the biggest thing is just trying to take care of my body."
His aptitude has already made a strong impression.
"You can see it at work daily, whether it be practice or even in games," Staal said. "If something didn't go right, the next time he does it, he does it differently and gives himself a better result. I think he's always engaged, you can tell he's taking a lot in.
"As a young player, it's a whirlwind. There's a ton of things going around, whether it's where to be at certain times, meetings; there's so much that goes along with it but he's handled it all really well and he looks comfortable. He's quiet, but I'm sure as time marches on he'll open up a little bit more. It'll be fun to see because he's going to be a great player."

Sunday's practice

Kyle Okposo and Sam Reinhart were both absent due to injuries. Okposo, who has not yet played this season, will not travel for the team's back-to-back games in Philadelphia but will skate on his own in Buffalo. Krueger said he is optimistic Okposo can return for the following series against Washington.
Reinhart is day-to-day with a lower-body injury after a collision into the boards sent him briefly into the tunnel during the second period against Washington on Friday. He returned and finished the game, skating 21:25. Krueger said Reinhart will travel to Philadelphia.
"It's lower-body that appears to be manageable so he'll come with us on the trip and we'll make that final decision," Krueger said. "We will do a pregame skate again tomorrow where we can then decide our roster after that."
Here's how the Sabres lined up Sunday.
4 Taylor Hall - 9 Jack Eichel - 37 Casey Mittelstadt
68 Victor Olofsson - 12 Eric Staal - 24 Dylan Cozens
13 Tobias Rieder - 20 Cody Eakin - 72 Tage Thompson
53 Jeff Skinner - 27 Curtis Lazar - 15 Riley Sheahan
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 62 Brandon Montour
33 Colin Miller - 10 Henri Jokiharju
44 Matt Irwin
35 Linus Ullmark
40 Carter Hutton