Whitehorse retailer stuck with Buffalo Sabres merch after trade sends Dylan Cozens to Ottawa

Diehard Buffalo Sabres fans in Yukon take note, there may be a bargain to be had.

The NHL team apparel is no longer the hot commodity it once was in the territory — in fact, it's quite the opposite. That's because Yukon hockey star Dylan Cozens has been traded away.

At the Sports Experts retail store in Whitehorse, Sabres jerseys are on sale and hats are adorned with red "sale" stickers.

Last month, Cozens — "the workhorse from Whitehorse" — was sent from Buffalo to Ottawa in a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline. And with that move came a shift in allegiance among those in Cozens's hometown who are more keen on cheering for the player than the team.

"If anyone wants a good deal on Buffalo gear, we can definitely have a discussion," said Jason Gendron, general manager at Sports Experts, which sells professional sports merchandise.

Gendron says while Sabres gear is now collecting dust in his store, it's the opposite with Ottawa Senators gear.

"We have seen an uptick since the trade happened," said Gendron. "We're responding accordingly, trying to get some [Senators] gear in."

As it stands now, the store doesn't have any Senators merchandise. Gendron says it wasn't a priority until Cozens joined that team.

Demand has grown even more since Ottawa clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2017.

"Now that they've made the playoffs we have some jerseys, t-shirts and hats ordered," Gendron said.

"I know there's a big fever to get Cozens jerseys but they can't just be ordered on the spot. We do have some blank jerseys coming up."

Someone not looking to get rid of Sabres gear is Mike Cozens, Dylan's dad. He estimates he's accumulated about 10 hats and several jerseys.

"I'm keeping it," said Mike. "There's people that