Two Atlantic Division rivals linked up for a change-of-scenery deal on trade deadline day.

The Ottawa Senators sent forward Josh Norris and defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for centre Dylan Cozens.

With the Buffalo Sabres on their way to yet another season out of the playoffs, the team opted to move on from Cozens, a 23-year-old struggling to live up to a big contract.

The native of Whitehorse, Yukon signed a seven-year contract extension worth $49.7 million in February of 2023 when he was in the midst of what appeared to be a breakout season. Cozens scored 31 goals and 68 points in 2022-23 but only has 29 goals and 78 points in 140 games between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Norris was selected 19th overall in the 2017 draft by the San Jose Sharks and he was one of the prospects moved to Ottawa in exchange for Erik Karlsson just over a year later.

After scoring 35 goals and 55 points for the Sens in 2021-22, Norris inked an eight-year contract worth $63.6 million. The first three seasons of that contract have been riddled with injury, as the 25-year-old Michigan native has 66 points in 111 games between 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Bernard-Docker was selected by the Sens with the 26th overall pick in the 2018 draft and made his debut with Ottawa during the shortened 2021 season. The product of Banff, Alberta has scored 20 points over 129 games in his NHL career.

The Sabres sit last in the Atlantic Division with a 24-31-6 record and will see their playoff drought extend to 14 seasons in the spring. The Sens currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 31-25-5 record. Ottawa hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2016-17 season, the third longest drought in the NHL behind Buffalo and the Detroit Red Wings.

Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!