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

[HOOats]

I just don't see Byram coming in and being a demanding guy that elevates the rest of the roster, either.

And you can say the same things about Dahlin, Tuch, or anyone else in that locker room right now.

A huge part of the floundering of the roster is that they are still missing the guys that say the Bruins have in their room that refuse to let their standard slip even when they lose foundational guys off the roster.

I think Byram can be a guy who leads by example and elevates the rest of the roster. By all accounts he's an intense competitor and we aren't exactly overflowing with those. He's known to have leadership traits in his peer group.

Plus, we've tried the EJ/Clifton additions of vets from successful franchises without much impact. Maybe this is Adams going further and trying to inject some championship DNA directly into the young core. The "do-nothing Adams" crowd isn't ready for Kevyn the Mad Scientist.

 

[Chainshot]

I just don't see Byram coming in and being a demanding guy that elevates the rest of the roster, either.

And you can say the same things about Dahlin, Tuch, or anyone else in that locker room right now.

A huge part of the floundering of the roster is that they are still missing the guys that say the Bruins have in their room that refuse to let their standard slip even when they lose foundational guys off the roster.

He could come in and be one of those. The slate is clear, he could step in at 22 and say "this is how we did it on a championship team". Or not. There are too many guys on this team who have a bad night and let it become a bad week or a bad month, some of whom are signed to very long, very expensive contracts. It doesn't seem like many of them are stepping up to say "this is on me, I promise you guys I will be better by doing X" or at least "I won't do Y any more".

 

[toddkaz]

I didnt know Cozens and Byram are besties. It explains a lot about the trade.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-morning-take-a-trip-to-cancun-may-have-led-byram-to-buffalo

Byram and Cozens go way back. They were teammates in midget. They also played together for Team Canada at the U-17s, U-18s and twice at the World Juniors. They hang out in the summers. “It’s so exciting. I can’t wait for the guys on the team to meet him. They’re going to love him,” said Cozens, smiling. “One of my best friends. I’m really excited to add him to this team. He’s going to fit in so well.

Besties playing together awesome!
(sarcasm)

 

[Jim Bob]

I think Byram can be a guy who leads by example and elevates the rest of the roster. By all accounts he's an intense competitor and we aren't exactly overflowing with those. He's known to have leadership traits in his peer group.

Plus, we've tried the EJ/Clifton additions of vets from successful franchises without much impact. Maybe this is Adams going further and trying to inject some championship DNA directly into the young core. The "do-nothing Adams" crowd isn't ready for Kevyn the Mad Scientist.

He seems to be just as competitive as guys like Cozens and Krebs and Dahlin.

I am all for Adams being more proactive than in the past. But, that also does not mean that he has a proven ability to craft a quality roster such that any move he makes is automatically assumed to make the team better.

This trade is a gamble. It could make the team better by strengthening their blueline and adding a guy that is a great partner for Dahlin.

Or, he could be yet another talented guy the Sabres add who sees his career cut way short by concussions and it is a horrible waste of a trade.

Only time will tell.

 

[EichHart]

I didnt know Cozens and Byram are besties. It explains a lot about the trade.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-morning-take-a-trip-to-cancun-may-have-led-byram-to-buffalo

Byram and Cozens go way back. They were teammates in midget. They also played together for Team Canada at the U-17s, U-18s and twice at the World Juniors. They hang out in the summers. “It’s so exciting. I can’t wait for the guys on the team to meet him. They’re going to love him,” said Cozens, smiling. “One of my best friends. I’m really excited to add him to this team. He’s going to fit in so well.

Besties playing together awesome!

Dahlin and Mitts were besties too

 

[Jim Bob]

I didnt know Cozens and Byram are besties. It explains a lot about the trade.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-morning-take-a-trip-to-cancun-may-have-led-byram-to-buffalo

Byram and Cozens go way back. They were teammates in midget. They also played together for Team Canada at the U-17s, U-18s and twice at the World Juniors. They hang out in the summers. “It’s so exciting. I can’t wait for the guys on the team to meet him. They’re going to love him,” said Cozens, smiling. “One of my best friends. I’m really excited to add him to this team. He’s going to fit in so well.

Besties playing together awesome!

Cozens, Krebs, and Byram seem to be really good friends from all accounts.

‘I love him to death.’ Trade to Sabres reunites Bowen Byram with close friends Cozens, Krebs

It hurt to lose Casey Mittelstadt, but Cozens and Krebs are over the moon to get Byram.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

Dahlin and Mitts were besties too

And Eichel and Reinhart rode a bicycle built for two...

 

[toddkaz]

Dahlin and Mitts were besties too

They became friends.....

Adams traded for Cozens bestie for good vibes.

There is a difference

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I wonder if something was in the works last year. If anyone remembers the Okposo comment about how sometimes teammates who are friends get traded and you need to move on. It was pretty clear he was talking to the Dahlin-Mitts-Cozens crew.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

At the end of the day do you want to pay Mitts 6-7 per? Like already mentioned enough investing in the entire corps which obviously isn’t good enough on its own.

Byram is 22 still and a dman. He is far from a finished product while Mitts is probably closer to his ceiling. And since Samuelsson is no longer a lock to be a consistent top 4 D I don’t mind the trade.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Snippit]

At the end of the day do you want to pay Mitts 6-7 per? Like already mentioned enough investing in the entire corps which obviously isn’t good enough on its own.

Byram is 22 still and a dman. He is far from a finished product while Mitts is probably closer to his ceiling. And since Samuelsson is no longer a lock to be a consistent top 4 D I don’t mind the trade.

Yes I would easily sign Mittelstadt because he is the only good forward this year. And 21M is not unreasonable for your top 3 C.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I can't stand this idea that one of them HAD to go, and that if one HAD to go it HAD to be the pending RFA...just because he's the pending RFA. The other two produced more when they played pond hockey that will never translate in playoff hockey. Mitts was better when they were playing a more responsible game that does translate. I can't understand how so many here think 21 mil is too much for three Cs, or that Buffalo can't afford that anyway. They were going to have around 5 mil in cap space in the summer even after re-signing Mitts to 6.5-7M. I didn't expect KA to use all that space on quality players, but being able to afford Mitts is not part of the equation...it's wanting to or operating on an internal budget.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Was curious the scope of what you meant but "much bigger" like what did you have in mind?

Like big big. Like Power + Kulich for Tkachuk big. Not proposing that, but that level of trade.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

At the end of the day do you want to pay Mitts 6-7 per? Like already mentioned enough investing in the entire corps which obviously isn’t good enough on its own.

Byram is 22 still and a dman. He is far from a finished product while Mitts is probably closer to his ceiling. And since Samuelsson is no longer a lock to be a consistent top 4 D I don’t mind the trade.

Yes. In a heart beat. Because that's a fair contract now and a bargain in a few years. Mitts might be nearing his ceiling and that's okay because he has been the Sabre's best forward this year. I'm sure there are some outliers but trading your most versatile center (and the one with the best compete, defensive acumen, and hockey sense) rarely changes corps in a positive direction. Trade under-performing players. Trade from an area of strength (i.e., one or more of a multitude of wing prospects). There were many good options and somehow the worst was taken.

Also, Byram is one hit away from being a finished product.

 

[Chainshot]

Yes. In a heart beat. Because that's a fair contract now and a bargain in a few years. Mitts might be nearing his ceiling and that's okay because he has been the Sabre's best forward this year. I'm sure there are some outliers but trading your most versatile center (and the one with the best compete, defensive acumen, and hockey sense) rarely changes corps in a positive direction. Trade under-performing players. Trade from an area of strength (i.e., one or more of a multitude of wing prospects). There were many good options and somehow the worst was taken.

Also, Byram is one hit away from being a finished product.

We said the same about Skinner and before that, Connolly. It's possible he adjusts his game, but it is a risk.

 

[TageGod]

Like big big. Like Power + Kulich for Tkachuk big. Not proposing that, but that level of trade.

1st Rosen Kulich Krebs. Give me Tkachuk

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

1st Rosen Kulich Krebs. Give me Tkachuk

Ottawa laughs and hangs up the phone.

 

[Gras]

Dahlin and Mitts were besties too

Isn't it Bryson whos gonna be the one losing the place to live.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

We said the same about Skinner and before that, Connolly. It's possible he adjusts his game, but it is a risk.

Totally agree. You can add to Crosby to that list too. But all that risk for a redundant player. I'm still left confused.

 

[Chainshot]

Looking at the five-on-five stuff, this reminds me a bit of the Avs getting Lukhonen before their Cup run. They seem like they know what they're doing in terms of scouting.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Der Jaeger]

Ottawa laughs and hangs up the phone.

Fine, add Olofsson to the deal.

 

[dire wolf]

Ottawa laughs and hangs up the phone.

No they don't. That's 4 first-round equivalent pieces. That's Eichel-type value. How much do you think Tkachuk is worth? And Buffalo's 1st is likely a lot better than a Vegas 1st.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Mitts replacement has nothing to do with winning the trade. Byram is a 2-3 defenseman and Mitts is a 2-3C thats what matters.

Failure to replace Mitts is on Adams not the trade. A GM should have a plan, not just grabbing at pieces.

I disagree.

I 100% believe this current regime believes the answer to replace Mitts is already in the organization.

 

[Chainshot]