Dylan Cozens Bio
Dylan Cozens is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays 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 became the first player from the Yukon to be chosen in the first round of the NHL draft, and he continues to develop as a dependable two-way forward at the NHL level.
After a decorated junior career with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, Cozens transitioned to the NHL with the Sabres in 2021 and grew into a top-six centre role. Following a midseason trade in March 2025, he joined the Ottawa Senators, where he has continued to play a significant role on offence while building his defensive game.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Cozens was born on February 9, 2001, in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, to his father Mike Cozens and his mother Sue Bogle. He grew up in a region where organized ice hockey was limited, and he spent much of his childhood outdoors learning the game. When he was three years old, his father built a backyard ice rink on which Dylan first learned to skate.
Because the pool of hockey players in Whitehorse was small, Cozens frequently played against opponents who were older and larger than him. The challenge sharpened his skills, but it also brought risk. When he was 12, he broke his leg after being boarded by an adult player in a house league game. The injury convinced his family that he needed to compete against players in his own age group in order to continue developing safely.
At the age of 14, Cozens moved to British Columbia to attend the Delta Hockey Academy, a program known for developing elite young players. During the 2015–16 season with Delta, he scored 19 goals and 31 points in 25 regular-season games. He also spent time with the Prince George Cariboo Cougars of the BC Hockey Major Midget League, where he worked to build his strength and overall game.
Path to Hockey
Cozens’s progress at Delta drew the attention of Western Hockey League scouts, and the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected him in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2016 WHL bantam draft. It marked the first time a Yukon-born player had been chosen in the first round of the WHL draft. Because he was below the WHL’s age minimum for the 2016–17 season, he returned to the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where he tied for the CSSHL Midget Prep league lead with 57 points in 30 games.
After rejoining Lethbridge for the WHL postseason, Cozens produced three goals and eight points in 12 playoff games. His strong play earned him a permanent place on the Hurricanes roster, and his development accelerated quickly. In his first full WHL season in 2017–18, he scored 22 goals and 53 points and won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s top rookie.
By his sophomore season, Cozens was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in North America. He recorded 34 goals and 84 points in 68 games and was ranked the No. 5 North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. In June 2019, the Buffalo Sabres selected him seventh overall in the NHL entry draft, making him the first Yukon-born player ever taken in the first round.
Dylan Cozens Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Cozens spent three full seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, steadily increasing his production and leadership role. After his rookie award-winning year, he added 84 points in 68 games in 2018–19 and was appointed co-captain of the Hurricanes midway through the 2019–20 season. He also represented Canada at multiple international junior tournaments during this period.
In his final WHL campaign, Cozens led Lethbridge with 38 goals and 85 points in 51 games before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the early end of the season. He was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team and finished as runner-up for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy. Over his WHL career, he recorded 95 goals and 223 points in 179 regular-season games.
Buffalo Sabres Breakthrough (2021–2025)
Cozens joined the Buffalo Sabres for the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season and made his NHL debut on January 14, 2021, recording an assist against the Washington Capitals. He scored his first NHL goal on January 22, also against Washington. His rookie season included time in COVID-19 protocols and two upper-body injuries, but he finished with four goals and 13 points in 41 games.
With Sam Reinhart’s departure and Jack Eichel sidelined, Cozens moved into a top-six centre role in 2021–22 and posted 13 goals and 38 points in 79 games. On February 7, 2023, the Sabres signed him to a seven-year contract extension worth $49.7 million. He continued to handle top-line matchups in the seasons that followed.
On March 7, 2025, Buffalo traded Cozens to the Ottawa Senators in a deal that included Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick, with Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker going the other way. Cozens made an immediate impact with his new club, recording three goals and seven points in his first eight games and reaching his 200th career point on March 11. He closed the regular season with five goals and 16 points in 21 games with Ottawa, then made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ottawa Senators Era (2025–Present)
Cozens spent the summer of 2025 working closely with Sam Gagner, the Senators’ director of player development, to refine his two-way game. The early portion of the 2025–26 season showed his offensive growth, as he produced 10 points in the first 11 games despite a negative plus-minus rating. He recorded three-point games against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 11 and the Boston Bruins on December 21.
His strong play continued into the new year. On January 14, 2026, Cozens posted another three-point night in an 8–4 victory over the New York Rangers, and on January 31, he scored his 100th NHL goal in a 4–1 win against the New Jersey Devils. He added a third three-point performance on February 28 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring twice and adding an assist in a 5–2 victory.
The Senators qualified for the playoffs but were swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes. Cozens contributed two goals across the four postseason games and remained a central part of Ottawa’s forward group heading into the next campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although hockey players are not drivers, Cozens has built his reputation on a relentless, workmanlike style that earned him his nickname. He is known for his strong skating, physical play in the faceoff circle, and willingness to take on difficult defensive assignments. His offensive game is built around a heavy shot and the ability to drive the net, while his commitment to two-way play has made him a trusted centre in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cozens’s most notable milestones include being the first Yukon-born player selected in the first round of both the WHL and NHL drafts. He also represented Canada at multiple international events, winning gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He reached 100 NHL goals on January 31, 2026, and made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in 2025 with the Ottawa Senators.
Dylan Cozens Career Wins
Although ice hockey does not record individual “wins” in the same way as some other sports, Cozens has accumulated several notable victories throughout his junior, professional, and international career. His achievements include championship gold medals with Team Canada and key regular-season and postseason wins at both the WHL and NHL levels.
Junior and Professional Highlights
Cozens helped Canada win gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, while also capturing silver at the 2021 World Juniors and the 2022 IIHF World Championship. He reached his 100th NHL goal on January 31, 2026, and made his 200th career point on March 11, 2025, both notable individual milestones in his professional journey.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his international medals, Cozens was a Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy winner as the WHL’s top rookie and a WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team selection. He was also named to the all-star team at the 2021 World Juniors and the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where he finished fourth in tournament scoring with nine goals and 11 points in 10 games.
Dylan Cozens Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Dylan Cozens was raised by his father, Mike Cozens, and his mother, Sue Bogle. His father played a significant role in his early development, building a backyard rink that introduced Dylan to the sport. While the family is not known for a long professional hockey lineage, their support and willingness to relocate from Whitehorse were essential to his progression as a player.
Personal Life
Cozens maintains close ties to his hometown of Whitehorse, Yukon, and is often identified with his roots there through his nickname “The Workhorse from Whitehorse.” Public information about his personal relationships, marital status, or children is not widely confirmed, and those details remain private.
2025 Season Performance
Cozens’s 2025 storyline was defined by his midseason trade from the Buffalo Sabres to the Ottawa Senators on March 7. The change of scenery produced immediate offensive results, as he posted three goals and seven points in his first eight games with Ottawa. He closed the regular season with five goals and 16 points in 21 games for the Senators, quickly earning a role on a line with Drake Batherson and David Perron.
He also reached his 200th career point on March 11, underscoring his growth as a scorer. Cozens then made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, registering a goal and an assist in six games before Ottawa’s elimination.
Heading into the 2025–26 season, Cozens trained with director of player development Sam Gagner to sharpen his two-way game. Despite some early defensive struggles, his offensive production remained strong, and his continued development with the Senators positioned him as a key contributor for the franchise’s next playoff push.
