Dylan Cozens
A powerful, two-way centre from the Yukon who broke geographic barriers to become an engine of grit and skill in the NHL.
Born 2001 (age 25)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 9·Generation Z
Biography
Dylan Cozens carries the spirit of the Canadian North with him. Hailing from Whitehorse, Yukon—a territory not known for producing NHL talent—he shattered expectations at every turn. Nicknamed 'The Workhorse,' his game is built on a foundation of relentless skating, a long reach, and a complete two-way commitment. After dominating in the WHL, he was drafted seventh overall by the Buffalo Sabres, becoming a symbol of hope during the team's lengthy rebuild. In Buffalo, he evolved from a promising rookie into a core leader, logging heavy minutes in all situations and posting a point-per-game season. His trade to the Ottawa Senators brought him closer to his roots and into a new competitive context. More than just a skilled centre, Cozens is a pioneer, proving that with enough drive, a player from anywhere can not only reach the NHL but thrive as an indispensable part of its fabric.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Dylan was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dylan Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Dylan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first player from the Yukon territory to be selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft (7th overall, 2019).
- Recorded a point-per-game season in 2022-23 with the Buffalo Sabres, scoring 31 goals and 68 points.
- Won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
- Was named an alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres, reflecting his leadership role on a young team.
Did You Know?
He is the first person from the Yukon to be a member of Canada's national junior team.
His childhood hockey idol was Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks.
He played baseball at a high level as a youth and was a talented pitcher.
He helped design a specialty jersey for the Buffalo Sabres that incorporated elements of Yukon First Nations art.
“I come from a place where you have to work for everything.”
