Whitehorse retailer stuck with Buffalo Sabres merch after trade sends Dylan Cozens to Ottawa
Social Sharing
Diehard Buffalo Sabres fans in Yukon take note, there may be a bargain to be had.
The NHL team apparel is no longer the hot commodity it once was in the territory — in fact, it's quite the opposite. That's because Yukon hockey star Dylan Cozens has been traded away.
At the Sports Experts retail store in Whitehorse, Sabres jerseys are on sale and hats are adorned with red "sale" stickers.
Last month, Cozens — "the workhorse from Whitehorse" — was sent from Buffalo to Ottawa in a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline. And with that move came a shift in allegiance among those in Cozens's hometown who are more keen on cheering for the player than the team.
"If anyone wants a good deal on Buffalo gear, we can definitely have a discussion," said Jason Gendron, general manager at Sports Experts, which sells professional sports merchandise.
If anyone wants a good deal on Buffalo gear... - Jason Gendron, general manager at Sports Experts in Whitehorse
Gendron says while Sabres gear is now collecting dust in his store, it's the opposite with Ottawa Senators gear.
"We have seen an uptick since the trade happened," said Gendron. "We're responding accordingly, trying to get some [Senators] gear in."
As it stands now, the store doesn't have any Senators merchandise. Gendron says it wasn't a priority until Cozens joined that team.
Demand has grown even more since Ottawa clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2017.
"Now that they've made the playoffs we have some jerseys, t-shirts and hats ordered," Gendron said.
"I know there's a big fever to get Cozens jerseys but they can't just be ordered on the spot. We do have some blank jerseys coming up."
'Stuff still has value' for proud dad
Someone not looking to get rid of Sabres gear is Mike Cozens, Dylan's dad. He estimates he's accumulated about 10 hats and several jerseys.
"I'm keeping it," said Mike. "There's people that just got Sabres gear at Christmas, I'm not sure what they're going to do."
Cozens says the Sabres gear has a special place in his heart. Dylan made history in 2019 when he became the first Yukoner to ever be selected in the first round of the National Hockey League draft.
"The Sabres stuff, you know that was the team that drafted him," said Mike. "It was an exciting time while he was there and that stuff still has a value."
Mike is holding on to the Sabres gear for another reason. He says he'd ultimately like to see some of it on display alongside gear from other Yukon star athletes.
"It would be great to have a place to show off all our great athletes, our skiers, our swimmers," said Mike. "So that people can go in and see the ski poles from so-and-so. If the city ever decides to do that, I'll have a jersey for them."
As for Senators gear being available in time for the playoffs, Gendron is optimistic.
"I'm trying to get it flown up as we speak," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Why did the hockey player cross the road? Ottawa Senators asked prospects to tell a joke during scouting combine
Some of the NHL's top prospects were asked to tell Ottawa Senators scouts a joke during the NHL scouting combine last week in Buffalo. Social media was buzzing over the weekend after it was reported prospects said they were asked to tell a joke with no notice to Senators scouts during in-person interviews. Speaking on TSN 1200 Monday morning, Senators head coach Don Boyd confirmed the team did ask draft prospects to tell them a joke unprompted. 'Very few people could come up with jokes,' Boyd said. 'At one point, I think we were zero for 59…couldn't even come up with a joke. Four of the five that did come up with jokes weren't funny.' Boyd defended the question as part of the interview process, adding there was 'a couple that made us laugh.' 'Sometimes that puts them out of their comfort zone a little bit; we like that, see how they react because they were surprised by it. They still have to play on the ice.' Senators head scout Don Boyd says the "tell us a joke" question served it's purpose — TSN 1200 Ottawa (@TSN1200) June 9, 2025 The Senators met with 73 players during the NHL combine in Buffalo last week, with Boyd saying it was a 'real good group of players.' Ottawa currently has the 21st pick in the 2025 NHL draft, which will be held on June 27 and 28. Boyd says it's important for the club to find leaders and players that will develop into leaders. 'We've recognized the need for that in our room. I don't think it's new, but we've certainly emphasized the leadership character qualities of players now and the compete level of players now,' Boyd said.
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
If the Ottawa Senators trade Drake Batherson, they'd have to get a strong return
What does a trade involving Drake Batherson look like? 'If you're going to move him, it had better be for a lot,' former league executive Doug MacLean said over the phone from his home in Prince Edward Island on Wednesday morning. 'We're talking a good player here, a really good player who has had a lot of success.' It once would have been unthinkable that the Senators would consider moving the 27-year-old winger. Still, with the National Hockey League Combine taking place this week in Buffalo, there has been no shortage of talk that the club is listening to teams interested in Batherson. Whether the talks that Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios is having will lead to action remains to be seen. The fact that the Senators are considering it means the club wants to continue to change its mix up front. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Staios struck at the club's core by dealing centre Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for pivot Dylan Cozens at the NHL trade deadline in March. Listening is a large part of Staios' job, but whether the talk turns to action with Batherson remains to be seen. The Senators made the playoffs for the first time in eight years this spring, but they struggled mightily to score this year and were last in the league in five-on-five offence. The Senators have been linked to Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson because the club was eliminated in the Western Conference final last week and has a cap crunch. League executives say the Stars haven't shown any interest in moving Robertson and there haven't been any talks. If the Sens do move Batherson, who had 26 goals and 68 points in 82 games last season, the club will need to bring back a big piece. League executives say the Senators have been studying the market for a right-shot defenceman because of the uncertainty surrounding veteran Nick Jensen. League sources say Jensen, 34, is believed to have played through a hip ailment for the second half of the season and had surgery last month in New York City. There is no timeline for his return, but it's almost a certainty he won't be ready for camp in September. The Senators could move Tyler Kleven to the right side to start the year, but they'd still need to add depth. Since we don't know when Jensen will play, that's why Staios may be scouring that market. To get a good player, you have to give up something in return. Batherson is a good player and that may be a tough pill for the organization to swallow, which is why he could indeed be back next season. He has two years left on a deal that pays him $4.975 million US per season. Yes, Batherson has bouts with inconsistency — what player doesn't? — but he just posted his third straight season with more than 20 goals. Fabian Zetterlund would get more ice if the Senators don't bring back a forward in a potential deal involving Batherson. MacLean said if the Senators are serious about dealing Batherson, they'd have to make a trade similar to the one that saw Cutter Gauthier traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a first-round pick. The Flyers were able to get a good return, but general manager Daniel Briere was in a difficult position because Gauthier had indicated he had no intention of signing with Philadelphia. The Senators are dealing from a position of strength because they don't have to trade Batherson. He has been a good soldier for the organization and has shown improvement, but it's fair to say his performance in the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs left a lot to be desired. We've learned from Staios since he took over the GM's duties Dec. 31, 2023, that he doesn't rush into anything. He let the emotions of the playoffs wear off before sitting down to do a deep dive with coach Travis Green and what the club needs. All 32 teams are represented in Buffalo and Staois is among those holding discussions with other teams to see what the trade landscape looks like. He's expected to address the Ottawa media on Friday before the Senators Alumni charity golf tournament being held at the Canadian. Staios doesn't tip his hand on much, but Postmedia reported last week that he was expected to sit down with Claude Giroux's agent Pat Brisson this week in Buffalo to try to get a contract in place. League executives say Giroux, 37, doesn't have much interest in playing anywhere else next season and they expect he'll get a deal done with the Senators. They expect the only way that wouldn't happen is if the two sides can't agree on money. bgarrioch@
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Calgary Herald
If the Ottawa Senators trade Drake Batherson, they'd have to get a strong return
Article content Yes, Batherson has bouts with inconsistency — what player doesn't? — but he just posted his third straight season with more than 20 goals. Fabian Zetterlund would get more ice if the Senators don't bring back a forward in a potential deal involving Batherson. Article content MacLean said if the Senators are serious about dealing Batherson, they'd have to make a trade similar to the one that saw Cutter Gauthier traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a first-round pick. Article content The Flyers were able to get a good return, but general manager Daniel Briere was in a difficult position because Gauthier had indicated he had no intention of signing with Philadelphia. Article content The Senators are dealing from a position of strength because they don't have to trade Batherson. He has been a good soldier for the organization and has shown improvement, but it's fair to say his performance in the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs left a lot to be desired. Article content Article content We've learned from Staios since he took over the GM's duties Dec. 31, 2023, that he doesn't rush into anything. He let the emotions of the playoffs wear off before sitting down to do a deep dive with coach Travis Green and what the club needs. Article content All 32 teams are represented in Buffalo and Staois is among those holding discussions with other teams to see what the trade landscape looks like. Article content He's expected to address the Ottawa media on Friday before the Senators Alumni charity golf tournament being held at the Canadian. Article content Staios doesn't tip his hand on much, but Postmedia reported last week that he was expected to sit down with Claude Giroux's agent Pat Brisson this week in Buffalo to try to get a contract in place. Article content
