Sabres' Cozens: 'We're way too soft this year'

Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens provided an honest critique of his team after its 6-2 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

"We're too easy to play against, and we need to get a little 'F you' in our game," Cozens said, according to Buffalo News' Mike Harrington. "I think we had more of that last year.

"We're way too soft this year. I feel like we don't kill plays. We kind of get bullied. ... We need to finish more checks, be harder to play against, stronger on puck battles. We need to kill plays in the defensive zone."

The 22-year-old noted that he needs to be "way better to help turn things around." Cozens has four goals and 11 points in 22 games amid the first season of his seven-year, $49.7-million contract signed in February 2023.

The Sabres remain without star forward Tage Thompson due to an upper-body injury. Jack Quinn has yet to play this season because of an Achilles injury.

Saturday's loss dropped the Sabres to 10-12-2 on the campaign and 3-6-1 in their last 10 contests. Buffalo is last in the Atlantic Division by points percentage after narrowly missing the playoffs a season ago.

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