The Ottawa Senators are working through some early-season lulls. With captain Brady Tkachuk sidelined due to injury, Ottawa is not looking to make any excuses. Instead, the team has embraced a “next man up” mentality.
So far, one of the players stepping up is center Dylan Cozens. The Senators initially acquired Cozens at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, sending Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the package to bring in the “Workhorse from Whitehorse.”
The early returns for Ottawa have been quite inspiring. Cozens played well down the stretch last year, scoring five goals and 16 points in 21 games. This year, he has elevated his game even further. As of Thursday’s play, he has six goals and 10 points through 11 games in the 2025-26 season.
The Senators certainly need him to perform at a high level, especially with Tkachuk out of the lineup. When asked what sparked this leap in performance, Cozens pointed to his confidence—more specifically, his desire to have the puck on his stick and directly impact the play.
“I want the puck, I want it, I want it through the middle of the ice. I want to hunt it down, and I like having the puck on my stick and using my legs to skate, and I think that’s where I excel,” Cozens said.
### Dylan Cozens Keys In On Specific Improvement
Looking deeper into Cozens’ game, there are some areas that could cause concern. For instance, he has the third-fewest Goals For Per 60 Minutes among Senators skaters, according to Evolving Hockey. Only Lars Eller has a lower Expected Goals For Per 60 Minutes.
However, the production is undeniably there early in the season. Cozens is scoring the goals Ottawa has needed from him and has generally been one of their top players while Tkachuk has been sidelined.
Moreover, his improvement isn’t limited to scoring. He’s also shown positive strides in other areas of the ice. When asked why he feels he has improved so much this year, Cozens attributed it to hard work and preparation.
“And I think it’s clicking a lot easier for me this year, and we’ve done a lot of work on it, lots of videos,” he explained.
### Senators, Cozens Looking To Meet Expectations
The Senators made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, thanks in part to Cozens’ emergence. Though their postseason run was short-lived—they were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first round—making the playoffs marked a turning point for Ottawa.
Expectations for the team have risen since last season’s success, and the fanbase’s demands have increased accordingly. Cozens and his teammates are embracing these heightened expectations, eager to deliver the results their supporters want.
“It’s a great vibe here,” Cozens said, capturing the growing optimism in Canada’s capital city as the Senators strive to build on their early-season momentum.
https://heavy.com/sports/nhl/ottawa-senators/senators-dylan-cozens-sparked-renewed-confidence/