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

[Sabresfansince1980]

Many of you guys forget the biggest issue the Sabres face. Players don't want to come here. It's has nothing to do with being cheap. It's why they end up with Clifton and Johnson. The only ways they get elite talent is through trades and the draft. This team will never be a big player in free agency.

Mittelstadt wanted to be here. You think Byram is all about re-signing in two summers? Let's see...

 

[Tsyolin]

We didn’t trade Mitts for scraps. That isn’t the point. What we did do is weaken a position of need to strengthen a position that was not needed today. Sure Byram can become a star but when? Are we in for more development years? Puzzling.

I disagree, center is absolutely a position of strength for us while defense is most certainly not

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I disagree, center is absolutely a position of strength for us while defense is most certainly not

All three of our centers are a strength?

 

[Zman5778]

Notice there was not retention, which probably hurt the return too.

Why would we have retained? Byram is a bigger cap hit than Mitts.

 

[SwordStanley10]

I agree many have lost the plot on here over the last few years. But there are legit reasons to take issues with this trade. You seem to be saying anyone taking issue with it is unreasonably bashing the organization.

Nope, no issue with stating opinion on the trade. Its the negativity about everything related and unrelated to the trade that is just toxic and doesn't advance any discourse about the team moving forward. It serves no purpose and is depressing to read. I can already see from some of the responses to my post that I should give up while ahead and just stay away from here.

 

[Zman5778]

I disagree, center is absolutely a position of strength for us while defense is most certainly not

We have Tage, Cozens and who else? Krebs? Then what exactly?????

 

[Dirty Dog]

Notice there was not retention, which probably hurt the return too.

I uh know you want to come up with reasons to hate the trade. But this one is reaching tooooooo far.

 

[dasaybz]

All three of our centers are a strength?

Could certainly do alot worse than TT and Cozens

 

[joshjull]

I disagree, center is absolutely a position of strength for us while defense is most certainly not

Please show your work to support this assertion.

 

[Zman5778]

Mittelstadt wanted to be here.

Adams wanted Mitts to be here too, publicly. I wonder if it was a little different behind the scenes as regards Mitts. Maybe he wanted a deal bigger than Tage/Cozens.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Could certainly do alot worse than TT and Cozens

Uh yeah...like only having Krebs after them...

 

[elchud]

With minutes in parentheses...

Power (22) - Dahlin (24)
Sammy (20) - Joker (18)
Byram (20) - Clifton (16)
RyJo/Bryson

 

[Tatanka]

I disagree, center is absolutely a position of strength for us while defense is most certainly not

No its not. Thompson isn’t a teue C much less a no.1 and Cozens is better on the wing.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Adams wanted Mitts to be here too, publicly. I wonder if it was a little different behind the scenes as regards Mitts. Maybe he wanted a deal bigger than Tage/Cozens.

Who knows, but that doesn't make sense to me.

 

[zenthusiast]

I think I’d have sooner traded Cozens but that wasn’t going to happen.

 

[Dirty Dog]

We have Tage, Cozens and who else? Krebs? Then what exactly?????

We definitely need another center. But high-compete physical centers for your bottom six are way harder to find than high potential defensmen. I think the forward group needed some serious reworking, with or without mitts, so I don’t think the “final picture” is done yet…hopefully?

 

[Dubi Doo]

His ceiling isn’t too 4, come on. His ceiling is a top 2 defensemen. He’s going to play a top 4 role with us. Probably Dahlin’s longterm partner

Yeah. I think peoples' emotions are getting the best of them. Byram is an incredibly intriguing player. His potential is REAL. He was a #4 pick overall for a reason, and has had some very nice highs. It's the team building perspective that peeves me, but it's entirely possible Byram is the better player in a couple years.

 

[dasaybz]

I think I’d have sooner traded Cozens but that wasn’t going to happen.

Mitts has a career high 15 goals but you'd rather have traded Cozens?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I uh know you want to come up with reasons to hate the trade. But this one is reaching tooooooo far.

Every other trade has retention to maximize return. Buffalo is literally one of the only trades without it.

No need to make personal jabs like you usually do. You are literally the worst -- putting you on ignore.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Two thoughts:

1. Don't posterize myself. These threads are great reads in 3-4 years with hot takes.

2. Adams has to be setting something bigger up.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Every other trade has retention to maximize return. Buffalo is literally one of the only trades without it.

No need to make personal jabs like you usually do. You are literally the worst -- putting you on ignore.

there’s an obvious difference between this trade and those trades.

 

[zenthusiast]

Mitts has a career high 15 goals but you'd rather have traded Cozens?

Yeah. I think he is currently and will continue to be a better player despite scoring fewer goals.

 

[zenthusiast]

If there’s a complementary move coming, great, as long as it’s been planned for. Making the move and then going fishing would be a bit cavalier

 

[Chainshot]

Adams wanted Mitts to be here too, publicly. I wonder if it was a little different behind the scenes as regards Mitts. Maybe he wanted a deal bigger than Tage/Cozens.

Based on his play, why is he not worth more than them? He's outproducing them at 5-on-5. He's got better defensive metrics. When the top line stalled, they called on Mitts to get Skinner and Tuch to go. When Cozens was lost in the woods, they moved him to RW and he got going with Mittelstadt as his center.

Perhaps this applies a boot to the asses of many since Mitts is also the downtown/single guy hang out person for a bunch of 'em.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Two thoughts:

1. Don't posterize myself. These threads are great reads in 3-4 years with hot takes.

2. Adams has to be setting something bigger up.

I think you're right in regards to #2. If not, then this trade is a head scratcher since we have no one who can play the tough minutes like Mitts could.