Sabres sign forward Dylan Cozens to a seven-year, US$49.7-million extension

The Buffalo Sabres have agreed to terms with forward Dylan Cozens on a seven-year extension worth $49.7-million.

The team announced the contract Tuesday. Cozens will count $7.1-million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 season.

Cozens, who turns 22 Thursday, is the latest core player the Sabres have extended over the past six months. Buffalo signed All-Star forward Tage Thompson for $50-million over seven seasons in August and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to a $30-million, seven-year deal in October.

Rasmus Dahlin, the top pick in 2020 who’s a Norris Trophy candidate and filled in for Thompson at NHL All-Star weekend, figures to be next for a big contract. He’s signed through next season and can begin talking about an extension this summer.

Cozens, who was set to be a restricted free agent, has already set career highs with 17 goals, 26 assists and 43 points – with 30 games left in the season. The seventh pick in 2019, Cozens has 34 goals and 60 assists in 169 regular-season NHL games, all with Buffalo.

The Sabres, led by Dahlin, Thompson, Cozens and 2021 No. 1 pick Owen Power, are contending to make the playoffs. The organization’s 11-year playoff drought dating to 2011 is by far the longest in the league.