Cozens would be a smart bet to make but I cannot see a scenario where the Sabres trade him for picks/prospects. Unless you're trading Knies (which I don't have an appetite for), not sure what the Leafs would have that would be worth a Cozens that would fit the Sabres desire to change their mix.
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Goalie prospects are also amazingly unpredictable, and in no way should be assumed to have similar value to top skater prospects.
Very different skill sets/impacts on the team.
If I'm the Leafs I'd be more happy offering one of Minten or Cowan + another prospect like Steeves + picks.
Knies wouldn't be on the table at all.
Why would buffalo trade Cozens for Minen or Cowan (or both, honestly)?
Those guys are very mediocre prospects if you look at the whole league. 'Best Leafs prospect' doesn't mean 'valuable'.
They are both closer to the NHL and likely are ahead of multiple players picked ahead of them in their draft years.
Counting on Minten to be the guy seems dangerous.
The Hasek/Peca Sabres and the Briere/Drury/Vanek/Miller Sabres were legitimately *good*.
The Sabres organization is pretty dumb.