Speculation: Bigger Breakout Season: Mitts or Cozens

[HaNotsri]

It will be tied, Mitts will score more points but Cozens will score twice as many goals.

 

[Bendium]

I think both will have improved seasons, but I vote Mitts for one reason...

I think they already know Cozens will make it as a 3rd/2nd line center at least, and they still have plenty of time left to develop him and find out.

Mitts on the other hand they are running out of time with. If they still have any hope for him at center, they need to find out in the first half of this season. If he can make it as a winger they need to know that before the end of the year.

Like Thompson last year, I think Mitts will be a focus for the coaching staff, and will get the top opportunities to excel with good players and PP1 time in Olofsson's spot. If Mitts has it in him to be everything we have hoped for, then he will have the best opportunity in his career to make the jump. I think he will make a jump simply due to opportunity, but will it be THE jump? You will find out at the trade deadline.....mmuuuuuuuhhhhahaaa!

Cozens will still get lots of development and improvement, but might lose some opportunities to Mitts and will not get time on PP1.

 

[truthbluth]

Voted Mitts because I think Dallas will be heavily invested in his success and will be relying on him to fill the void left by Robertson.

 

[BFLO]

Mitts surprised me last year, but there was never consistency. There were times he turned into a possession monster along the walls.

If he could play like that even half the time and score like 20g/20a he'd be a valuable player.

 

[jmelm]

I think Cozens will have a bigger breakout year, but I actually am feeling confident that Mittlestadt will have a breakout year as well.

 

[KiwiGriff]

I voted Cozens, but in my Fantasy draft I took Mittelstadt with my very last pick. I’m quietly hopeful that he will have a breakout year though, worth a gamble in Fantasy, but I don’t think chances are high.

 

[dasaybz]

What changes first? Cozens luck Or Mittelstadts ability to stay healthy?

I’ll vote on the luck

He's had 1 year that the injury bug got him. Why is this like attached to him now? Seems really strange to me.

 

[Gras]

He's had 1 year that the injury bug got him. Why is this like attached to him now? Seems really strange to me.

He's not the only one that has been called injury prone after one injury.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Looking pretty one-sided on the ice at this point, even though it's only a 5 point difference. The +13 goal differential is noteworthy.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I've been wrong plenty in the past, but I at least got this poll question right!

 

[Dirty Dog]

Cozens has certainly broken out and looks the part.

Mitts…is still a bit in limbo. We need to fix his line, but I think he has played decent enough as to where he isn’t the problem. But it’s the misfit line and not working

 

[Fjordy]

Looking pretty one-sided on the ice at this point, even though it's only a 5 point difference. The +13 goal differential is noteworthy.

Mitts has almost all the points at PP, at ES he seems to have only 4 points in 23 games.

Cozens has certainly broken out and looks the part.

Mitts…is still a bit in limbo. We need to fix his line, but I think he has played decent enough as to where he isn’t the problem. But it’s the misfit line and not working

I don't believe it's possible to play so bad even with Olofsson and other players who were constantly on his lane (Krebs, Asplund, Hino). I think the problem is that nor Mitts nor Olofsson are just good, even if for different reasons, but as they are.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Cozens is playing well, has a great mentality to drive to the net and shoot more. I think his best advantage over Mittelstadt right now is having a legit puck hound on his wing. Peterka has been fantastic and hasn't left Cozen's side all season. Others have gone into the weeds about why Mittelstadt hasn't been that bad but I won't bother. Some of us are going to see what we want. That line needs better wingers, period. Krebs isn't ready to take Mittelstadt's role either so there isn't anyone to try instead of Mitts. It boils down to the fact that there aren't enough guys down the FW roster playing well enough right now, and Cozens is getting the time and role to be with the better wingers, and maybe well deserved. I think any gap between them wouldn't be much if the two were switched.

 

[Jacob582]

It's a long season. Mittelstadt still has time to pull ahead.

 

[truthbluth]

Voted Mitts because I think Dallas will be heavily invested in his success and will be relying on him to fill the void left by Robertson.

If wishes were f***ing horses…..

 

[TheMistyStranger]

It's a long season. Mittelstadt still has time to pull ahead.

Totally. But as I said in the OP, it's not just about points. Cozens and his wingers are flying and generating tons of chances, which then prevents time in the d-zone.

 

[joshjull]

Totally. But as I said in the OP, it's not just about points. Cozens and his wingers are flying and generating tons of chances, which then prevents time in the d-zone.

That right there has played a big role in the take off for Cozens. Those three have such a great mix of skills that mesh perfectly together.

 

[dasaybz]

I just don't have the faith in Mitts to be an impactful player that I once had. He's not really playing bad or anything but I don't see the high offensive upside I thought he had. What's with him never using his shot?

 

[molotce]

I just don't have the faith in Mitts to be an impactful player that I once had. He's not really playing bad or anything but I don't see the high offensive upside I thought he had. What's with him never using his shot?

i thought that too... even in his rookie seaason he had a good shot, injured? lack of confidence?

 

[TheMistyStranger]

77 games, 67 points and a big 7 year extension for Cozens.



78 games, 53 points (including a recent hot streak that has him notch 7 in his last 4) for Mittelstadt.



I think it's fair to say that Cozens has had a bigger breakout year, beyond points.



Mitts has largely been saddled with underperforming players, as the start of the season was very much the Tage line, Cozens line, and Okposo line all pretty consistently together. It is not particularly surprising that Mitts' point totals while playing on the Line of Misfit Toys aren't as high as they could have been, especially as he's much more of a playmaker than a shooter.



For the purposes of this poll, my money was on Cozens. Over the past three months, though, Mitts has at least made this into a good debate, and I don't think there's a wrong answer here.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I voted Mitts, and gave my reason for my vote. I said he’d have the season he should have had last year. Seems I was correct in that assumption.

Next year’s poll should be JJ vs Quinn. Or like, Greenway vs. (New addition).

 

[Chainshot]

Kinda cool that here at the end, there can be some discussion about who took a bigger step since they both have had strong seasons.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Happy with both of them.

 

[Sabre the Win]

If Mittlestadt could aim when he shoots I think he could be right up there with Cozens neck in neck maybe even ahead because he seems to be more solid defensively.

Interesting to think about

 

[Matt Ress]

I thought Cozens would take another year to put his offense together while Mitts was a year ahead being injured last season. Can't really be mad about being wrong. Career years from a lot of guys probably helps an already tight locker room and keeps these guys hungry. It will be refreshing to see an optimistic locker clean out.