The Ottawa Senators have made a significant move ahead of the NHL trade deadline, acquiring center Dylan Cozens and defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. The Senators also received a second-round draft pick for 2026.

Cozens, a seventh overall pick in 2019, has shown promise this season with 11 goals and 20 assists in 61 games, enhancing Ottawa's lineup alongside captain Brady Tkachuk. Gilbert has added depth to the defense, although his contributions have been modest this season with five assists in 25 games.

On the other hand, Norris has had a challenging season with 20 goals and 13 assists across 53 games, struggling to maintain health since his 35-goal breakout in 2021-22. Bernard-Docker, a first-round pick in 2018, has not significantly impacted the Senators' scoring, making this trade a potential win for Ottawa as they bolster their chances in the playoff race, currently sitting in a wild-card position in the Eastern Conference.