The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. It was a combination of staff writers and over 200 readers that ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2024. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player. Staff votes counted equally with reader votes.
Tyson Kozak
Drafted: 2021 – 7th Round (193rd Overall)
Position: Center
Born: December 29th, 2002 – 21 Years Old
2023-2024 stats: AHL – 41 GP – 5-7-12, Playoffs – 4 GP – 0-0-0
2023 T25U25 Ranking: Not ranked in the Top 25
Tyson Kozak makes his debut on our list three years after being Buffalo’s final draft choice in 2021. After being drafted, he returned to the WHL for one season but spent the last two years in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. With all the high picks and top prospects the Sabres have had in the Kevyn Adams era, it can be easy to overlook the later round prospects. However, Kozak has proven to be worth taking a flyer on.
His point totals won’t jump out at anybody, but it’s his work without the puck that makes him stand out. He has a constant motor that makes him a force on the forecheck and ready to pounce on opponents’ mistakes. His knack for putting on pressure can translate into opportunistic goals around the net:
In addition to his high energy playstyle, he possesses a quick release that can beat goaltenders clean when he has time and space.
The AHL is a tough league for young players to make their mark in. Despite lacking imposing size, Kozak has become an impactful player for the Amerks. Head Coach Seth Appert noted that Kozak’s versatility was key for the Amerks’ line up, particularly during their playoff series against Syracuse:
(see time 0:56-1:30 for Kozak comments)
Even with more prospects coming to Rochester this year, Kozak’s versatility and penalty kill ability will likely keep him as a regular in lineup. If he continues to develop, his skill set is perfect for a bottom six role with Buffalo down the road.
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