Confirmed with Link: Casey Mittelstadt traded to COL for D Bo Byram. Straight up.

[Captain Holt]

You guys are acting like Mittlestadt won 2 cups here and the team was a perennial contender. They already committed to Cozens and TT. Is Casey a good player? Of course. But with Krebs, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund, Rosen... they have the pipeline to replace him. Who was coming on D for them? Nobody. Thats why this trade makes sense.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

it says something that im not taking a victory lap at having called this 2 years ago

but i want my mittsy back

 

[Sabre the Win]

So glad I have already quit on this team or this would make me mad.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Take good care of my boy

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

You guys are acting like Mittlestadt won 2 cups here and the team was a perennial contender. They already committed to Cozens and TT. Is Casey a good player? Of course. But with Krebs, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund, Rosen... they have the pipeline to replace him. Who was coming on D for them? Nobody. Thats why this trade makes sense.

We know why Mitts got traded... The return doesn't make sense is the problem...

 

[Reddawg]

You guys are acting like Mittlestadt won 2 cups here and the team was a perennial contender. They already committed to Cozens and TT. Is Casey a good player? Of course. But with Krebs, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund, Rosen... they have the pipeline to replace him. Who was coming on D for them? Nobody. Thats why this trade makes sense.

I agree with you. Mitts is a good player, a very good player. He's also going to be a very expensive player for whoever ends up signing his next deal, and there has been a whole lot of handwringing going on about us overspending on his deal and not being able to shore up the D as a result.

It's just not possible to have it both ways, no matter how much we try to. The D is shored up. We have a metric ton of forward prospects and not enough room for them all. The more I think about it, the more I know we did the right thing here, especially if/when Kevyn isn't done yet.

 

[Dingo44]

You may be right. Byrum is a very talented player.

Maybe the move Power off PP2. Who knows

We all think of Power as the top D on the second pair and the PP2 QB but now they can put Byram in that spot and let Power catch up a bit as the 3rd pair LHD. Power is still only in his second year pro. He also might be better with less minutes and we don't have to throw him in such critical situations as much with Byram around. No matter what Bryam right now becomes our second best defensemen and can eat minutes - and if Dahlin goes down for a bit he slots right into Dahl's spot.

 

[CrazyWayne]

You guys are acting like Mittlestadt won 2 cups here and the team was a perennial contender. They already committed to Cozens and TT. Is Casey a good player? Of course. But with Krebs, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund, Rosen... they have the pipeline to replace him. Who was coming on D for them? Nobody. Thats why this trade makes sense.

Are Thompson and cozens actual centers on a cup contender? Or are they more wingers? (Besides ostland all the prospects likely end up on the wing as well)

Mittlestat is 2nd line/middle center on a cup contender

 

[Jacob582]

Good for Krebs. Not so much for Ryan Johnson.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Are Thompson and cozens actual centers on a cup contender? Or are they more wingers? (Besides ostland all the prospects likely end up on the wing as well)

Mittlestat is 2nd line/middle center on a cup contender

I think we know that Tage Thompson isn’t a winger.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Good for Krebs. Not so much for Ryan Johnson.

Both of thoughts players crossed my mind once I heard about the trade... RyJo might regret signing his ELC here.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Gladly will dine on crow, but not liking this deal today.

 

[elchud]

They couldn't afford Mitts and Cozens, we all knew this.

Would feel better about the value if they added a 2nd. They must feel Byram had a #3 floor and top-pair upside, that's the only way this trade makes sense. It saves them from overspending in a UFA defenseman as well.

Yes to re-signing Joker. And locking up UPL for four years.

They have the money to add a 3/4 center and bottom 6 winger. Still have trade assets in Rosen and Kulich-or-Savoie and RyJo.

I guess Adams is confident that Cozens and Power have significantly better seasons next year. If they dont...oh boy.

I'm gonna miss Mittsy.

 

[PirateShip]

To be fair......Byram does still have legit top 4 ceiling.

It's not just not what we wanted (or frankly needed). He is highly talented.

Bo being drafted 4th overall in 2019 and D-men traditionally having a longer development curve I’m sure led to the 1 for 1 trade. Let’s hope Bo hits his ceiling!

 

[Reddawg]

Good for Krebs. Not so much for Ryan Johnson.

After EJ is traded, our top six is Dahlin, Power, Byram, Joker, RJ and Clifton, would imagine RJ will be fine and getting regular minutes.

Byram - Dahlin
Power - Joker
RJ - Clifton

Will get tight for someone next year with Sammy back, but that's next year's problem.

 

[BUCKSHOT]

I am curious but why does Mittelstadt not fit as a long term center on this team?

maybe they had contract talks and Casey was asking for more than the Sabres wanted to pay

 

[CrazyWayne]

I think we know that Tage Thompson isn’t a winger.

I'd argue that for his development he wasn't, but if you moved him back he would be the same player he is today

He wouldn't have developed without the move, but that doesn't mean he is still a center today in my opinion

 

[joshjull]

I’m happy him as well.

Poor Byrum, We’ll soon see how good of a poker face he has.

 

[Dingo44]

Joker is playing great hockey. If he will sign for a reasonable amount, I don't see why you move him.

Someone is always injured on the blueline, and having one of Clifton, R. Johnson or Jokiharju rotating in and out as needed gives the team depth.

Personally, I'd much rather have Joker back than re-signing Bryson and having him play 45 games as the 7th D.

I actually like Joker and I think he's been pretty good this season but he has a lot of value right now and the Byram trade makes him redundant. He's not a 3rd pair D and it's a waste to keep him as your 7th defenseman. Between Bryson, Clague, and a Rochester call up we're fine. Joker could be close to our Rasmus Sandin trade this season - lots of teams looking for young cost controlled RHD's.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I’m happy him as well.

Poor Byrum, We’ll soon see how good of a poker face he has.

Hey he’s already won a Cup. Hopefully he sees it as a chance to have a bigger leadership role on and off the ice.

 

[dasaybz]

Seriously, f*** Adams and f*** Pegula. Sell the f***ing team before it is run into the ground for another decade and a half.

Did we just trade McDavid? WTF

Are Thompson and cozens actual centers on a cup contender? Or are they more wingers? (Besides ostland all the prospects likely end up on the wing as well)

Mittlestat is 2nd line/middle center on a cup contender

I'd rather have Cozens and Tage then Mitts. That being said I've always been a big Mitts guy.

 

[Jim Bob]

Maybe the plan is to put Dahlin & Power together and let them play 30+ minutes a night...

Power-Dahlin
Byram-Joker
RJ-CC

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

No. My gut reaction is this is a bad trade for the Sabres

 

[TehDoak]

You guys are acting like Mittlestadt won 2 cups here and the team was a perennial contender. They already committed to Cozens and TT. Is Casey a good player? Of course. But with Krebs, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund, Rosen... they have the pipeline to replace him. Who was coming on D for them? Nobody. Thats why this trade makes sense.

In the end it doesn't matter.

You trade an area of weakness (Center depth) to reinforce an area of strength (LH PMD) it doesn't make sense.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

You guys are acting like Mittlestadt won 2 cups here and the team was a perennial contender. They already committed to Cozens and TT. Is Casey a good player? Of course. But with Krebs, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund, Rosen... they have the pipeline to replace him. Who was coming on D for them? Nobody. Thats why this trade makes sense.

Cozens and Tage are toolsy centers without, lets say, the largest toolboxes. Cozens is probably a better winger than center. You do not play winning hockey when your top 2 centers have shown limited ability to play 200' games. Krebs has been playing better, but being a solid 3C is still up in the air, let alone a solid 2C. Of the prospects mentioned, only Ostlund confidently projects as a center. And they're all prospects. Not one of them is going to come close to contributing what Mitts did this year.