The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward prospect Tyson Kozak to a three-year, entry-level contract, per a team release Friday. Per CapFriendly, the contract carries a cap hit of $850K with a rather unique signing bonus structure.
The Sabres drafted Kozak in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 193rd overall pick. The 19-year-old center had 32 goals, 37 assists, and 69 points in 66 games last season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. Barring a massive unforeseen development in which Kozak makes the Sabres out of camp, he’ll return there next season as well.
Buffalo director of player development, Adam Mair, called 2021-22 “an excellent year” for Kozak, while Rochester Americans assistant coach Michael Peca also spoke highly of the player during development camp in July:
Watching him out there, you’d think he went in the top three rounds, to be honest with you. The kid’s impressive. He’s quiet, he’s unassuming, but he’s a real hockey player. He does everything right on the ice.
Kozak is a solid member of what seems to be a promising 2021 draft class for the Sabres. He’ll join his peers in Josh Bloom (Saginaw, OHL) and Olivier Nadeau (Gatineau, QMJHL) as 2021 Sabres draftees returning to the CHL next season.
His strengths rely on his two-way game, as alluded to by Peca. He’s a smart offensive player who shows good instincts away from the puck and has a surprisingly physical play style given his 5′ 11″, 165 lb frame.
Wonder if he’s any relation to Don Kozak, a decent winger for the Kings in the 70s.