NHL analyst reveals Red Wings interest in top asset from Sabres

While trades between divisional foes in the National Hockey League are rare, they do happen.

And according to one top NHL analyst, the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres could be on the move of completing a move with one another.

NHL insider and former goaltender Kevin Weekes has confirmed that the Red Wings are among the teams interested in Dylan Cozens of the Sabres:

Weekes is as connected as any other NHL analyst, so he's certainly not just blowing smoke with this rumour.

Cozens is playing in his 5th year in the NHL with the Sabres, who are in last place in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division.

He's just 2 years removed from having scored 31 goals, but his production dropped to 18 goals last year; neither year resulted in a playoff appearance for Buffalo, who have the longest postseason drought in the NHL.

Cozens has 26 pointes (10G, 16A) in 53 games so far this year.

He's also under contract through 2030 with an AAV (average annual value) of $7.1 million.

In order to accommodate a trade, the Red Wings would need to shed salary (perhaps the underperforming J.T. Compher and his $5.1 million AAV?) to make Cozens fit under their salary cap restraint.