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Dylan Cozens expects to feel right at home when the puck drops at O2 Arena in Prague for a pair of NHL Global Series games between his Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils.
When two squads open up the 2024-25 NHL regular season Oct. 4 in Czechia, Cozens will look to emulate his performance from this past May when he competed with Team Canada at the 2024 world championship in Prague.
Cozens scored a tournament-leading nine goals for Team Canada en route to his selection to the all-tournament team.
Now, he returns to the same arena looking to start the 2024-25 NHL campaign with the Sabres on a high note.
“I can’t believe I am already going back there,” Cozens told NHLPA.com prior to heading overseas. “I love the city and the fans are great. They love their hockey.”
“I am excited to be spending more time there and to be doing all that with this group of guys here in Buffalo.”
Cozens started his European experience in Munich, Germany, with an exhibition game against the Deutsche Eishockey Liga’s Red Bull Munich on Sept. 27.
“I have never done one of these Global Series experiences, so it’s going to be great,” said Cozens. “Going over to Germany is going to be fun, another great chance to see life over there, and to enjoy what it has to offer.
“I love trying new foods, learning about different cultures too – there is so much to look forward to.”
Cozens will also get to reunite, albeit on different sides of the puck, with a familiar face for the two games in Prague.
Dawson Mercer, who will be starting his fourth NHL campaign, all with New Jersey, has represented Canada with Cozens on four teams – twice during the world juniors (2020, 2021) and twice at the world championship (2022, 2024).
“He is a great guy,” said Cozens, of the 22-year-old forward from Carbonear, Newfoundland. “I have played on Team Canada with him more than a few times now. I always love playing with him and against him. He’s a great guy and a good friend.
“I think playing against New Jersey is going to be a lot of fun. We’re both pretty young, have a lot of skill and like to score goals – it should be some good hockey.”
The 2024 NHL Global Series will mark the Sabres’ third trip to Europe for regular-season games. The team travelled to play in Helsinki, Finland, and Berlin, Germany, in 2011 and to Stockholm, Sweden, in 2019.
Cozens is hopeful the series will be a launching pad for a successful season in Buffalo.
“We have a great group, including the new guys we have added, who will be big pieces of this team,” said Cozens. “We want to get things going and we have a lot to prove.
“This is a great opportunity for us to really gel as a team.”
The group’s top priority is no surprise.
“We know we have to make the playoffs – there are no excuses anymore. We don’t care if we are a young team. We have all played enough games and making the playoffs is our focus.”
Cozens, who will skate in his fifth NHL season in 2024-25, marveled at how quickly his first four NHL campaigns have come and gone.
He feels somewhere in the middle between rookie and veteran.
“It’s crazy for me to think this is my fifth NHL season already. Time definitely does fly. You just have to live in the moment and enjoy every day at the rink.”
Mercer shares a similar philosophy.
“You want to come to the rink with a positive mindset and put your focus and energy into that moment,” said the centre, who recently re-signed with the Devils.
Mercer, the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, will also be making his Global Series debut.
“Getting the chance to play in Prague a few months ago and getting to go back with my team is going to be a special experience. Just knowing the city a little bit, how great the fans are – I’m excited to get back there.
“You see other teams get to do it and when you finally get your chance, it’s pretty exciting. I think it’s going to be a great team-bonder for us to kick off the year.”
New Jersey has made the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice in the last seven years.
Mercer has seen a motivated group ahead of this season.
“We have a great balance of veterans and young guys. I think that is something that is going to help us this year and going forward.
“There is a good feeling around the rink.”
A strong start in Czechia would certainly boost that optimistic outlook.
“Everyone is looking forward to it. I can’t wait to get things going again and to be back in Prague.”
Mercer will see a few familiar faces when he steps on the ice.
“First off, ‘Coz’ is a great guy. Being from the Yukon, he loves the outdoors, and so do I, so we have that in common.
“I think his game shows how good he is. He’s a big part of that Buffalo team. We’ve played a lot together for Team Canada, so it was pretty cool to be over in Prague with him for the world championships.
“There were other guys from Buffalo there as well, Bo Byram and Owen Power, so it’s going to be fun to go up against them.”
