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

[dasaybz]

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

I don't agree at all but fair point.

 

[HaNotsri]

I was scared they'd trade Mitts for something dumb but this is just beyond anything I could imagine. We downgrade C for...lhd?
Will he even be a top 4 player?

 

[Steddy33]

I see the Avs turned right around and picked up Walker and got rid of Johansen's contract.

The Walker trade dropped first. But I can't imagine one happens without the other happening from the Av's perspective. They needed that anchor gone

 

[SwordStanley10]

And my last contribution before I go back into my self-imposed exodus - this trade was done despite knowing what it would mean to the locker room. Perhaps this is a sign from ownership/management that not everything can be about positivity and brotherly love. Not commenting on Mitts (he was great), but he's very close to a lot of players who either didn't show up in shape or otherwise weren't ready to play in October, I think many of us would agree on that. What this says is we want you to be happy in Buffalo, but if you want to keep your band together you better produce results. I dont mind it. Thing like this can lead to a lot of off-ice positive growth.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

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

Ostlund, Kulich, Savoie … any third line center free agent we can sign next year at a decent cap hit etc etc

Krebs is going to be the third line center and he has been showing why that is actually a good idea. I think he will do great.

 

[Dubi Doo]

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.

They really need to find a player to replace what Mitts can do. They don't have to be as impactful. A Hecht caliber player would be nice.

 

[EastVillageBlues]

Coming in peace.

The Sabres org baffles me. They seem to constantly trade already made NHL contributors for less mature and less certain prospects.

Is there actually a plan, or is the game always kicking the can down the road?

 

[Der Jaeger]

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.

Assuming Erik Johnson is moved:

Byrum - Dahlin
Power - Jokiharju
Johnson - Clifton
x Bryson
Injured: Samuelsson

Once Samuelsson is back, it's a logjam. So it may not be now, but I think Adams has another move in mind. And if it's with Power, that's a big trade chip.

It's probably with Jokiharju, just looking at it and thinking Adams won't trade the 1st overall he made.

 

[Chainshot]

They really need to find a player to replace what Mitts can do. They don't have to be as impactful. A Hecht caliber player would be nice.

I have questions if this group of managers can identify a player of that variety and bring them in.

 

[Chainshot]

Ostlund, Kulich, Savoie … any third line center free agent we can sign next year at a decent cap hit etc etc

Krebs is going to be the third line center and he has been showing why that is actually a good idea. I think he will do great.

Kulich and Savoie don't look like they're going to be centers at the NHL level.

 

[Tsyolin]

Please show your work to support this assertion.

Well Tage and Cozens still exist unless we've already given up on them. I'm also a big believer in Krebs. I just don't think paying Mitts 7+ million was ever in the cards. Idk even if we don't like the return I just never figured Mitts into our long term future.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

Kulich and Savoie don't look like they're going to be centers at the NHL level.

Likely yes - but we’re still at least 4 deep with top 9 centers before FA and the draft this year

 

[sabremike]

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

The single reason that I hate this trade is the multiple concussions. As we saw with Jack almost any injury can be fixed but concussions are the one obvious exception. This is a very reckless high risk/high reward move and given our history in doing these types of thing it doesn't fill me with confidence.

 

[Ace]

If you want to find any bright side on the player swap you can say Colorado sold low and Buffalo sold high.

Of course…the GM didn’t really act like it though. A year and a half ago this would have been unthinkable. But that year and a half…kind of matters.

Anyway…I’m choosing to believe this was a Moneyball situation where Granato refused to play Krebs top 9 so Adams took away a top 9 forward.

And not the actual Moneyball situation it is where we are organ donors for the rich.

 

[OkimLom]

Guess I'm in the minority here because I think it's a fine trade, not a win or a loss. Mitts has been great but I just never envisioned a future for him on this team with Thompson and Cozens already locked up long term. We're we really prepared to give Mitts the Cozens deal to be our 3rd line center?

Not sure, but I would be interested in what Adams was willing to give Mittelstadt, and what gap was there, where Adams decided to move on. We won't ever find that out, but if it's a situation where it was insulting, it paints Adams terrible, because Casey deserved a decent raise after improving his game so much, probably moreso than the quick contract Cozens got.

Selling high was the way to go, and while yes Byram is a risk with his concussion history, I think getting a top 4 D is a good find. I don't really put a ton of stock in the whole LHD thing.

One thing I know for certain is I'm thanking God this trade was for an NHL player and not futures. I'm so done with picks and prospects. I'm curious to see how Byram performs.

Now I'm curious why you are sick of futures/picks/prospects and supporting this move. We just acquired a serious injury risked player, of a 22 year old player that has not played a full season in his career where prior to this year, his most games was 42 games. If there was anybody that could fit the look and feel of an actual prospect, it's Byrum. We will still have to handle him, and develop him in the same way as we have attempted with Power and Sammy.

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

It also shoots a huge hole in the wanna be here argument. It appears that you must want to play here and take a discount or you are expendable. Mitts never complained about his handling, took the demotion to Roch maturely, and worked on his game year to year. Guess we do not want to send that message to the “young core.”

That's a stretch. At this point no one on the team has complained and everyone has been a good soldier. Eventually, someone has to go.

 

[Fezzy126]

I hate this trade so f***ing much.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Assuming Erik Johnson is moved:

Byrum - Dahlin
Power - Jokiharju
Johnson - Clifton
x Bryson
Injured: Samuelsson

Once Samuelsson is back, it's a logjam. So it may not be now, but I think Adams has another move in mind. And if it's with Power, that's a big trade chip.

It's probably with Jokiharju, just looking at it and thinking Adams won't trade the 1st overall he made.

I'd rather pair Joki with assets than trade Power at this point.

I have questions if this group of managers can identify a player of that variety and bring them in.

Greenway gives me a sliver of hope. Not a center, but he's someone they can move up and down the LU. I'm a bit worried theyre going to lean on Thompson-Cozens-Krebs- Cheap UFA/Young player to hold down the center spots once again relying on progression from young players rather than bringing in forwards to help relieve some of that pressure.

I do think Adams has something up his sleeve with Joki. Hopefully, it's not just picks. There's a real hockey trade to be made there.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Coming in peace.

The Sabres org baffles me. They seem to constantly trade already made NHL contributors for less mature and less certain prospects.

Is there actually a plan, or is the game always kicking the can down the road?

No plan, just get forced into corners and react to individual circumstances

 

[Sabre the Win]

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.

When he turns around and signs with Colorado for 6.5m we can start vandalising Sabres property.

 

[Dirty Dog]

The single reason that I hate this trade is the multiple concussions. As we saw with Jack almost any injury can be fixed but concussions are the one obvious exception. This is a very reckless high risk/high reward move and given our history in doing these types of thing it doesn't fill me with confidence.

I think there’s plenty of reasonable issues you could take with this trade. Not retaining just ain’t one of them.

Look at skinner for a player who had several concussions early in his career and it wasn’t an issue. Byram hasn’t had one in two seasons, so I guess we just cross our fingers. But I always get injury concerns

 

[dasaybz]

And my last contribution before I go back into my self-imposed exodus - this trade was done despite knowing what it would mean to the locker room. Perhaps this is a sign from ownership/management that not everything can be about positivity and brotherly love. Not commenting on Mitts (he was great), but he's very close to a lot of players who either didn't show up in shape or otherwise weren't ready to play in October, I think many of us would agree on that. What this says is we want you to be happy in Buffalo, but if you want to keep your band together you better produce results. I dont mind it. Thing like this can lead to a lot of off-ice positive growth.

Excellent point and something needed to change.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I'd rather pair Joki with assets than trade Power at this point.

Greenway gives me a sliver of hope. Not a center, but he's someone they can move up and down the LU. I'm a bit worried theyre going to lean on Thompson-Cozens-Krebs- Cheap UFA/Young player to hold down the center spots.

I do think Adams has something up his sleeve with Joki. Hopefully, it's not just picks. There's a real hockey trade to be made there.

I'm willing to bet Greenway is traded tomorrow for Podkolzin or something like that

 

[HaNotsri]

Mitts for a player with brain damage. It's just... Where will we play him? Power-Byram?
He's exactly what we won't need.

Only makes sense if Dahlin has taken Pegs daughter hostage and want to get traded.

 

[EastVillageBlues]

No plan, just get forced into corners and react to individual circumstances

Hmm,

do you see that they have something else up their sleeve?

Like acquiring another elite forward, that's the only thing that would actually make hockey sense.