Sabres’ Tyson Kozak focused on staying healthy after successful NHL stint

BUFFALO – In his first taste of the NHL last season, Sabres center Tyson Kozak learned that if he wants to stick around, he must stay healthy.

Talent isn’t an issue. Kozak, 22, showcased a gritty, mature style that belied his limited experience.

If he can limit his injuries – given his history, that’s a big if – he might someday entrench himself among the Sabres’ bottom-six forwards.

Kozak has never played more than 55 games in his three pro seasons. He earned 21 appearances with the Sabres before suffering a hip strain April 1 that ended his NHL campaign. He returned later in the month and played all eight games during the Rochester Americans’ run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

During the offseason, Kozak, who played in Friday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins, worked at home in Manitoba to revamp his body.

“With the role I have, guys are big and strong, so just trying to put on some more strength and just trying to work on my body to try to limit the injuries as well, because that plays a part and, obviously, had a few the last couple seasons,” Kozak told the Times Herald following Friday’s pregame skate in KeyBank Center.

While the Sabres list him at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, the same size as last season, Kozak said he feels stronger.

“He has made a step, so watching him in practice and the game, he’s really skating well,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.

At his best, Kozak, a seventh-round pick in 2021, 193rd overall, plays an aggressive 200-foot game.

“Goes to the net hard, has a real directness to his game, and not afraid to get into people,” Ruff said. “Here’s a guy that kind of earned a spot and played hard when he got in.”

It’s unclear if Kozak will have a spot out of training camp. Teams must finalize their 23-man roster by Monday. The Sabres, who open the season Thursday, have 14 healthy forwards left.

He must clear waivers to be sent to Rochester, according to Puckpedia.com, and it’s hard to imagine the Sabres would risk losing him.

Kozak made in instant impact as a rookie last season, having a goal disallowed in his debut that replays showed should’ve counted. He scored his first official goal in his second outing.

“Coming in, I was, obviously, nervous, and then getting a few games under my belt, I started to just build a little more confidence and feel like I really belonged,” said Kozak, who signed a three-year, $2.325 million contract in the offseason.

On March 23 in Winnipeg, with about 200 family members and friends from Souris, Manitoba in attendance, Kozak scored in the Sabres’ 5-3 win over the Jets.

“It’s definitely crazy looking back on some of those moments from last season, obviously, playing (my) first game, scoring, getting to play in Winnipeg in front of a bunch of people,” he said. “Getting to look back on those experiences, it’s really cool.”