"The immediate notion for a Sabres package for Pettersson has to include Dylan Cozens because Vancouver would need a center in return," Harrington wrote. "Trading Bowen Byram, a British Columbia native who played junior hockey for the Vancouver Giants, would be more troublesome."

Should the Montreal Canadiens try to acquire Dylan Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres? There's speculation about that and Casey Mittelstadt's future with the Colorado Avalanche.

Cozens is in the second year of a seven-year, $49.7 million contract and has posted 10 goals and 16 assists in 53 games this season. His production has dipped since his breakout 2022-23 campaign when he recorded 31 goals and 68 points, but he remains a highly regarded center with a manageable $7.1 million yearly cap hit through 2030.

A name that’s been in the rumour mill for months re-surfaced this week, and there’s a sense that more than one Canadian team has interest.

Kent Hughes is known for being active and making calls to his NHL counterparts, looking to gauge the market on who is available and what the trade values of players can be.