Dylan Cozens Bio
Dylan Cozens is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on February 9, 2001, in Whitehorse, Yukon, he was selected seventh overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Nicknamed “The Workhorse from Whitehorse,” Cozens made history as the first player from the Yukon to be a first-round NHL draft pick. He played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) before launching his professional career. In March 2025, the Sabres traded Cozens to the Ottawa Senators, where he continues to develop as a promising NHL centre.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Cozens was born on February 9, 2001, in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, to Mike Cozens and Sue Bogle. When he was three years old, his father built a backyard ice rink where Cozens learned to skate and developed his passion for hockey. Growing up in Whitehorse presented unique challenges due to the limited pool of hockey players in the small city. Cozens often found himself playing against older opponents to find competitive games.
At age 12, Cozens suffered a serious injury when an adult player boarded him during a house league game, breaking his leg. This incident prompted Cozens and his family to seek opportunities outside Whitehorse where he could compete against players his own age. At 14, he moved to British Columbia to attend the Delta Hockey Academy and refine his skills in a more competitive environment.
Path to Hockey
During the 2015-16 season with the Delta Hockey Academy, Cozens scored 19 goals and 31 points in 25 regular season games, along with five goals and six points in three postseason games. In January 2016, he participated in the prestigious John Reid Memorial Bantam Tournament, leading all players with nine goals and 15 points in six games and earning a spot on the Reid Division All-Star Team. To build additional strength and experience, Cozens also played with the Prince George Cariboo Cougars of the BC Hockey Major Midget League.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL selected Cozens in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2016 WHL bantam draft. This marked the first time a Yukon-born player had been selected in the first round of the WHL draft. He signed with the team in May but played for the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, British Columbia, that first season since he was below the WHL age minimum. He scored his first WHL goal on November 13, 2016, in a game against the Saskatoon Blades.
Dylan Cozens Career
Junior Career (2016-2021)
In his rookie WHL season with Lethbridge (2017-18), Cozens posted 22 goals and 53 points in 57 games. His performance earned him the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the top first-year player in the WHL. He was a finalist for the CHL Rookie of the Year award. Cozens recorded his first WHL hat-trick on January 13, 2018, leading Lethbridge to a 5-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice.
During the 2018-19 season, Cozens recorded 34 goals and 84 points in 68 games. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him the No. 5 prospect among all North American skaters. On June 21, 2019, the Buffalo Sabres selected Cozens seventh overall in the NHL entry draft, making him the first Yukon-born player ever taken in the first round of the NHL draft. He signed his entry-level contract with Buffalo on July 15, 2019, before returning to Lethbridge for one more WHL season.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2020-2025)
Cozens joined the Sabres for the 2020-21 season and made his NHL debut on January 14, 2021, recording his first point with an assist against the Washington Capitals. He scored his first NHL goal on January 22, also against the Capitals. As a rookie, Cozens spent most of his time playing on the wing rather than his natural centre position due to team circumstances. He battled through COVID-19 protocols and two upper-body injuries during his first season, finishing with four goals and 13 points in 41 games.
The 2021-22 season brought new opportunities when Sam Reinhart departed and Jack Eichel was sidelined. Cozens moved back to centre and recorded the first multi-goal game of his career on November 12, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He finished that season with 13 goals and 38 points in 79 games. On February 7, 2023, the Sabres signed Cozens to a seven-year contract extension worth $49.7 million, securing his long-term future with the organization.
Ottawa Senators Era (2025-Present)
On March 7, 2025, the Sabres traded Cozens to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Playing on a line with Drake Batherson and David Perron, Cozens made an immediate impact with his new team, recording three goals and seven points in his first eight games. He reached the 200 career point milestone on March 11, scoring a goal in Ottawa’s 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. In 21 regular season games with the Senators that season, Cozens recorded five goals and 16 points. He made his postseason debut in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, contributing a goal and an assist in six games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cozens plays the centre position and shoots right. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, he uses his size effectively to win board battles and protect the puck. His two-way play has been a point of emphasis throughout his development, and he has worked to improve his defensive positioning and awareness at the NHL level. He began the 2025-26 season working with Sam Gagner, Ottawa’s director of player development, to refine his game further.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Cozens has achieved several significant milestones. He scored his 100th NHL goal on January 31, 2026, in a 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils. He recorded multiple three-point games during the 2025-26 season, including performances against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. His competitive drive and work ethic have earned him the nickname “The Workhorse from Whitehorse.”
Dylan Cozens International Career
Cozens represented Canada at multiple international tournaments before joining the NHL. At the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, he captured a silver medal with Canada Red, recording seven points in the tournament. The following year, he served as alternate captain for Canada’s under-18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Alberta, scoring a controversial game-tying goal in the semifinals against the USA with no time remaining. Canada won that game 6-5 in overtime and took gold in the tournament.
Cozens became the first Yukon player to represent the Canada men’s national junior ice hockey team at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic. He scored two goals and seven assists in seven games, helping Canada win gold with a 4-3 victory over Russia in the championship. At the 2021 World Junior Tournament, he served as co-captain and recorded eight goals and 16 assists, second among all participants, earning a spot on the tournament All-Star Team while Canada took silver.
At the senior level, Cozens made his debut at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland, finishing third in tournament scoring with seven goals and 13 points in 10 games despite playing left wing for the first time in his career. Canada took silver after losing to Finland in overtime. He returned for the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where he was named to the All-Star Team after recording nine goals and 11 points in 10 games.
Dylan Cozens Career Wins
Throughout his junior and professional career, Cozens has accumulated notable achievements across multiple levels of competition. In the WHL, he finished with 95 goals and 223 points in 179 regular-season games, along with 14 goals and 29 points in 35 playoff games.
WHL Highlights
Cozens won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year in 2018. He was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team following the 2019-20 season and was runner-up for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year. His 38 goals and 85 points in 51 games during the 2019-20 season led the Hurricanes. He finished his WHL career as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer among Yukon-born players.
International Wins
Cozens won a gold medal with Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He earned silver medals at the 2021 World Juniors and the 2022 and 2024 IIHF World Championships. He was named to the All-Star Team at both the 2021 World Juniors and the 2024 World Championship.
Dylan Cozens Family
Family Background and Lineage
Cozens grew up in Whitehorse, Yukon, with his father Mike Cozens and mother Sue Bogle. His father played a crucial role in his hockey development by building a backyard rink where Dylan first learned to skate. Coming from the sparsely populated Yukon territory, Cozens faced unique challenges in developing his hockey skills against age-appropriate competition, which ultimately shaped his determination to succeed at higher levels.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Cozens maintains active profiles on social media platforms including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). He continues to carry the pride of representing his home territory, being the first player from the Yukon to reach several significant milestones in Canadian hockey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season was a transformative year for Cozens. After five seasons with the Buffalo Sabres organization, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators at the NHL trade deadline in March 2025. The move immediately reinvigorated his offensive production, as he recorded 16 points in 21 regular season games with Ottawa. He made an immediate impact on the Senators’ top line, meshing well with teammates Batherson and Perron.
In the postseason, Cozens made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording a goal and an assist in six games. The Senators were eliminated in the first round but Cozens gained valuable playoff experience. Heading into the 2025-26 season, he worked extensively with Sam Gagner during the offseason to address defensive gaps in his game, though he struggled with a minus-10 plus-minus rating early in the season. He responded with several strong multi-point performances in December and January, including multiple three-point games against quality opponents. The Senators qualified for the playoffs again but were swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes, with Cozens scoring two goals in four games.