The original plan was for Team Canada to play a stacked top forward line of Jack Quinn at left wing, Dylan Cozens at center and Kirby Dach at right wing. The theory was having three offensive-minded first round draft choices on the top line would create fear in the hearts and minds of opponents.
When Kirby Dach was injured late in the third period of a pre-tournament game against Russia on Wednesday night, it forced Team Canada head coach Andre Tourigny to scramble his forward lines.
On Thursday morning, Dach was sent packing from the Edmonton bubble so that he could seek medical attention for his ailing right arm/wrist injury.
Quinn was demoted to the third line while Cozens moved from center to right wing on the top line. In came center Alex Newhook and Dylan Holloway to replace Quinn.
One man's loss another man's gain for Cozens, who is a man playing with boys. The 6'4", 200 lb. power center/winger looks like a legit NHL forward dominating junior players. His sick hand-eye coordination, hulking body and speed make him jump off the TV screen when he is on the ice.
On Saturday night, Cozens let it all hang out. He was Canada's best player in their first game of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton.
Cozens scored a goal and added three assists in the first 40 minutes of play. Cozens' first goal of the tourney was a microcosm of his dominant power forward stature.
Cozens looks every bit ready to make his transition from major junior hockey to the National League this season. When the WJC tourney ends on January 5, Cozens will fly directly to Buffalo where he will help Jack Eichel, Taylor Hall, Samson Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Dahlin and the Sabres to earn their first playoff berth since 2011.
Here's proof that Cozens is ready for prime time:
Cozens used his edges to drive to the middle of the ice. Notice his high rate of speed and control that he uses to get behind the German defense.
🚨🇨🇦 @HC_WJC hits double digits! @Dylan_Cozens barrels down the ice and @deb_teams didn't stand a chance. #WorldJuniors @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/A1Ek7DzlSg
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 27, 2020
Cozens uses his size to fight to the blue ice where he was rewarded with his second goal of the game.
Dylan Cozens (@BuffaloSabres) gets his second goal of the game for Canada.
— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) December 27, 2020
Assists to Connor McMichael (@Capitals) and Jakob Pelletier (@NHLFlames) pic.twitter.com/dAMgG9C4f5
Early in the third period, Cozens scored his hat trick goal on the power play and chipped in another assist.
On his hat trick goal, Cozens had his head up and his eyes on the back of the net. Focus, finish.
🎩🎩🎩 HATTY!!!!!!! @Dylan_Cozens nets his 3rd goal of the game and picks up the tournament's first hat trick of the year! @HC_WJC @BuffaloSabres #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/h8YO5PQ4Ry
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 27, 2020
In fifty minutes of play against the Germans, Cozens scored 3 goals and 3 assists.
Cozens won the gold medal for Canada at the 2020 World Juniors tournament where he scored two goals and seven assists in seven games played. Cozens will no doubt obliterate his WJC points production this year to last year.
In a bizarre twist of fate, the Kirby Dach injury has allowed Cozens to show Ralph Krueger and Kevyn Adams his true versatility and added value to the 2021 Buffalo Sabres. I have been saying for months that Cozens, who hails from Whitehorse, Yukon Canada, will be present and accounted for on January 14 when the Sabres open their 2021 season against the Washington Capitals.
After a two week quarantine period, Cozens will be ready to assist Eichel and Associates with their quest to earn the Sabres’ their first playoff berth since 2011.
@Dylan_Cozens named Team Canada Player of The Game with his 3G,3A performance in win over Germany @BuffaloSabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) December 27, 2020
@peterka_jj assist on Elias goal to make it 16-2 final score. Peterka finished the game with 1G,1A #Sabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) December 27, 2020
2021 #WorldJuniors: Hear from @WHLHurricanes forward & @BuffaloSabres prospect Dylan Cozens following @HC_WJC's win over Germany.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 27, 2020
WATCH 🎥 pic.twitter.com/5ZRbNU2n9e