A move like this was almost inevitable as the Sens venture forward in their hopes of being bona fide contenders.

Dylan Cozens was a rumoured trade candidate around the Buffalo Sabres, but not many expected the Ottawa Senators to be the landing spot. In a trade involving some more pieces, the leading players in the deal were Cozens to the Senators and Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Sabres.

For hockey fans, NHL trade deadline day can feel like a Bizarro version of Christmas morning—you're thrilled to get that new toy, but at the same time, you're forced to part with an old favourite.