Confirmed Trade: [COL/BUF] Casey Mittelstadt for Bowen Byram

[Mattilaus]

When you watch both Byram and Power last night. You see the flashes of a top pair player in each. Byram had more of those flashes and Power looked horrible allowing the tap in game winning goal. Byram has graduated beyond allowing those weak goals. Byram is a few years ahead of Power.

Both still have ample potential. Byram has a higher hockey IQ right now. But power has fewer games played.

Be happy. You have, by far, the best young talent in the NHL defensively.

You gripe too much. You’re definitely going to look back on your Byram angst and shake your head. He’s got all the tools to be elite. Not just top pair. Elite. Byram has more goals in this awful season of his than Dobson. And Byram has zero PP goals. He played much of this season with the Avs lousy middle six and RyJo. With very average players like Manson and Jack Johnson.

You parrot the same stuff over and over with no statistical backing and I simply don't accept it. Sorry, I am not just going to take your word for it. You want to say I am wrong about Byram, fine, but then you won't accept that you are wrong about Power. You took a single game sample size and one bad play and have decided that means Power will always be worse than Byram. Sorry, but I don't buy what you are selling and you don't know Power better than I do, having watched all of his games. You won't convince me otherwise so how about just sticking to Byram in this thread instead of continually crapping Power because you watched 1 game and saw 1 bad play. Byram had several giveaways last night that even he mentioned in post game, but you don't seem to care about those giveaways enough to make a judgement on Byram's ability but Power has a giveaway and all of a sudden that is an indictment of his overall skill level.

This is gonna be my last response to you because I don't want to spend any more time debating someone who tries to tell me how I am supposed to act/react rather than using objective data and information to discuss player potential.

 

[Wintersun]

Some avs fans are becoming notorious for bashing their players once traded to make their GM look good. It's strange because I think the GM is doing a fine job and doesn't need the sucking up to.

People were saying Newhook was crap. He isn't. Now Byram is crap? He isn't.

Just because a young player doesn't make an instant impact on a contending team doesn't mean he can't find his rhythm elsewhere.

This thread is the exact opposite. Avs fans trying to sell Buffalo fans that Byram is very good.

 

[jabubenice]

This thread is the exact opposite. Avs fans trying to sell Buffalo fans that Byram is very good.

Thank you!! the only negative comments from us avs have been that Bo has hit a speed bump in his development. But otherwise we love the kid and will miss him. This is the one player we all (check our board) wish the best for. He is a great kid.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Thank you!! the only negative comments from us avs have been that Bo has hit a speed bump in his development. But otherwise we love the kid and will miss him. This is the one player we all (check our board) wish the best for. He is a great kid.

Avs fans have been very chill on this, not sure how anyone would see it otherwise.

Still don’t love this trade, but it’s the sorta ballsy move I’d be happy to eat crow on.

It’s a bit hilarious seeing him step in and immediately be the best offensive weapon for the Sabres. He’ll learn bad habits and regress soon enough, they all do. Seriously though, very nice debut, just hope he can stay healthy. If he flies in and plays with no game plan like that- better than our vets, at least in one game.

Anyways, Mitts is fantastic, still wish we’d just signed him 5x6 or somethin, 3 good Cs is the best problem to have, but ah well. Aiming for 3 top pairing dmen instead, I guess.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Buffalo fans have generally lost all faith in the organization and view Mittelstadt as one of their season's few bright spots.

Their reaction to this trade needs to be viewed through that lens.

 

[EscapedGoat]

Some avs fans are becoming notorious for bashing their players once traded to make their GM look good. It's strange because I think the GM is doing a fine job and doesn't need the sucking up to.

People were saying Newhook was crap. He isn't. Now Byram is crap? He isn't.

Just because a young player doesn't make an instant impact on a contending team doesn't mean he can't find his rhythm elsewhere.

What an odd post considering this entire thread is basically just Avs fans telling Buffalo fans that Byram is going to be really good for them.

You obviously had some sour grapes and made up your mind to post this without even reading the thread. Please show me the posts from Avs fans calling Byram crap. I'll wait.

Maybe come into a thread with an open mind next time and leave your pre conceived notions at the door so you don't look so silly?

 

[57special]

I think BUF did a good job to get young talent out of this deal, which is hard to do. Sucks that he is a LHD, and has a history of Concussions, but if he was a healthy RHD he wouldn't be on the market.

BUF is selling high on Mitts, and not getting sucked into paying yet another C 7M+. He might have another couple of nice years, but give me Cozens and TT anyday over him. It's not like they don't have a plethora of young forward prospects that can take CM's place over the next couple of years.

I'm all for criticizing KA(and those above him), but not in this case. Made a tough, but wise, decision.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Good hockey trade. I’d give the edge to Byram. Both have development bumps in the road but I feel Byram will have more value over time

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Buffalo fans have generally lost all faith in the organization and view Mittelstadt as one of their season's few bright spots.

Their reaction to this trade needs to be viewed through that lens.

Absolutely, but it’s also just an extra gut punch because this is a dude who got rushed, got hurt, then became our best player. He seemingly wanted to be here, he seemingly isn’t at all the problem- so it’s not just negativity because the franchise consistently fails, it’s magnified because it’s such a popular player who kinda embodies the struggle the team has gone through.

But again, that’s where Adams has some guts, for good or bad. He believes in Thompson and Cozens, he believes in Byram, this was the move to make, I guess. Still hurts, man.

 

[lionsDen]

You parrot the same stuff over and over with no statistical backing and I simply don't accept it. Sorry, I am not just going to take your word for it. You want to say I am wrong about Byram, fine, but then you won't accept that you are wrong about Power. You took a single game sample size and one bad play and have decided that means Power will always be worse than Byram. Sorry, but I don't buy what you are selling and you don't know Power better than I do, having watched all of his games. You won't convince me otherwise so how about just sticking to Byram in this thread instead of continually crapping Power because you watched 1 game and saw 1 bad play. Byram had several giveaways last night that even he mentioned in post game, but you don't seem to care about those giveaways enough to make a judgement on Byram's ability but Power has a giveaway and all of a sudden that is an indictment of his overall skill level.

This is gonna be my last response to you because I don't want to spend any more time debating someone who tries to tell me how I am supposed to act/react rather than using objective data and information to discuss player potential.

The only worry you should have is byram getting concussion other then that you’re gonna love him when the dust settles. I agree with you on power, he’s gonna be a beaut. A score of Dahlin byram and piwer lord have mercy

 

[wetcoast]

Not likely. It's been patently obvious for over a year that the Sabres have exactly one two way forward, being Mittelstadt. That the Sabres brass cannot properly evaluate their own players is heartbreaking. Dylan Cozens is a terrible defensive forward. Tage Thompson is a bad defensive forward. Name another team that has $15 tied up into two centers that can't play defense.
This trade is a bad one for the Sabres because it almost doesn't matter how good Byram is. Unless he's a Norris candidate, this trade is a trainwreck from a team building point of view.

So if Bryam doesn't win a Norris it's a bad trade eh?

Sounds 100% unreasonable.

 

[truthbluth]

So if Bryam doesn't win a Norris it's a bad trade eh?

Sounds 100% unreasonable.

Nice reading comprehension.

 

[McJedi]

You parrot the same stuff over and over with no statistical backing and I simply don't accept it. Sorry, I am not just going to take your word for it. You want to say I am wrong about Byram, fine, but then you won't accept that you are wrong about Power. You took a single game sample size and one bad play and have decided that means Power will always be worse than Byram. Sorry, but I don't buy what you are selling and you don't know Power better than I do, having watched all of his games. You won't convince me otherwise so how about just sticking to Byram in this thread instead of continually crapping Power because you watched 1 game and saw 1 bad play. Byram had several giveaways last night that even he mentioned in post game, but you don't seem to care about those giveaways enough to make a judgement on Byram's ability but Power has a giveaway and all of a sudden that is an indictment of his overall skill level.

This is gonna be my last response to you because I don't want to spend any more time debating someone who tries to tell me how I am supposed to act/react rather than using objective data and information to discuss player potential.

Let me tell you something else about Byram. He was sick the day you acquired him. Your brass told him to jump on a flight to Buffalo. Byram said F that... got on a flight to play in Nashville last night when he was sick. Your team is clearly not contending for anything. That game meant nothing in the grand scheme of this season and his career.

But that's the kind of player you got. The kind of guy that puts the team very first. That's Bowen Byram. MacKinnon said it was tough to lose an "amazing player". He didn't say good player, or friend or great guy. He called Byram an "amazing hockey player" and Mack knows what those look like. Way more so than you would. You build teams around men like Byram. You put letters on their jersey. Byram will be up for your C one day is my guess. He'll have an A on that sweater by the start of next season. You guys played Byram 25 minutes last night. And again.. He's sick. And when he was sick on what I'll generously call a kinda bad hockey team, he put up 1G + one primary apple. Both very nice and skillful plays. Not awful for a guy playing sick on a brand new team that isn't great.

So know this... you are going to look like such a toolbag really soon. Be happy you got Byram. Stop fighting it so much.

I think Power is going to become a very good defender at some point too. I have no qualms with him. I like his upside. He's got a ways to go, but he too has the tools.

Your team is loaded on defense. Enjoy that. Stop whining so much

 

[McJedi]

Here is what another Avs fan noticed from Byram last night.

"Looking at the video of Byram trying to direct traffic on BUF's powerplay really speaks to that "Stanley Cup Experience" trope you hear coaches and GMs trot out every year when bringing in an old vet at the deadline. In this case, a kid, brand new, first game, no practice, yelling at his teammates to move their feet. To rotate. He knows, and clearly they don't.

I hope he's in the coaches' faces as well telling them this is not acceptable. Captain material if he does."

And Buffalo needs a new coach. You guys traded your good 2C for an even better top pair guy that's just 22. And has his name on the Stanley Cup already. In game six of the finals, Byram played 26 minutes, had a primary assist, hit the cross bar and was an expected goals for of +4.5. In one game. Kinda big game.

Don't be surprised when Byram is wearing your C in a few years.

 

[Uberpecker]

Avs adressed their needs, gave up an expendable asset and are now a better team for it. They won the trade.
Mitts has PPG potential and without wanting to jinx it (even though I don't really care either way) I wouldn't be surprised if within the next couple of seasons another former Sabres center is going to hoist a cup while having been instrumental in winning it.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Here is what another Avs fan noticed from Byram last night.

"Looking at the video of Byram trying to direct traffic on BUF's powerplay really speaks to that "Stanley Cup Experience" trope you hear coaches and GMs trot out every year when bringing in an old vet at the deadline. In this case, a kid, brand new, first game, no practice, yelling at his teammates to move their feet. To rotate. He knows, and clearly they don't.

I hope he's in the coaches' faces as well telling them this is not acceptable. Captain material if he does."

And Buffalo needs a new coach. You guys traded your good 2C for an even better top pair guy that's just 22. And has his name on the Stanley Cup already. In game six of the finals, Byram played 26 minutes, had a primary assist, hit the cross bar and was an expected goals for of +4.5. In one game. Kinda big game.

Don't be surprised when Byram is wearing your C in a few years.

Or it looks like a guy who hasn’t practiced with his new team yet, has no idea what the coaching staff has schemed up, and is just doing what he knows, which is putting him totally out of sync with his new team.

Anyway, this has been and remains Dahlin’s team.

 

[McJedi]

Or it looks like a guy who hasn’t practiced with his new team yet, has no idea what the coaching staff has schemed up, and is just doing what he knows, which is putting him totally out of sync with his new team.

Anyway, this has been and remains Dahlin’s team.

And in a game Byram is out of sync with his new team, he's vocal and finding ways to be your best player in that game when he's playing sick and probably tired from the travel.

you'll see very soon that Byram is a natural leader. Very vocal.

Byram and Dahlin have the potential to be the NHL's best pair and be that soon.

Avs adressed their needs, gave up an expendable asset and are now a better team for it. They won the trade.
Mitts has PPG potential and without wanting to jinx it (even though I don't really care either way) I wouldn't be surprised if within the next couple of seasons another former Sabres center is going to hoist a cup while having been instrumental in winning it.

Mitts is a RFA after the season and the Avs have little cap space so it's not likely he'll be around long unless he wants to play in Colorado on the low. Avs will be lucky to have him for the balance of his RFA years. But Avs would have struggled to resign Byram after next year too. So same same really.
I suspect Mitts plays 1.3 seasons in Colorado and leaves as a UFA summer of 2025.

 

[jfc64]

Watch out! Mittelstadt could be used to reaquiring Ryan Johansen (at half the cost!), Erik Johnson and ... ah, let's say ... Travis Konecny!

 

[jfc64]

Mitts is a RFA after the season and the Avs have little cap space so it's not likely he'll be around long unless he wants to play in Colorado on the low. Avs will be lucky to have him for the balance of his RFA years. But Avs would have struggled to resign Byram after next year too. So same same really.
I suspect Mitts plays 1.3 seasons in Colorado and leaves as a UFA summer of 2025.

Mitts and MacK will rule the weight room. And at 14 goals so far Mitts is not going to break the bank.

 

[Alienblood]

Let me tell you something else about Byram. He was sick the day you acquired him. Your brass told him to jump on a flight to Buffalo. Byram said F that... got on a flight to play in Nashville last night when he was sick. Your team is clearly not contending for anything. That game meant nothing in the grand scheme of this season and his career.

But that's the kind of player you got. The kind of guy that puts the team very first. That's Bowen Byram. MacKinnon said it was tough to lose an "amazing player". He didn't say good player, or friend or great guy. He called Byram an "amazing hockey player" and Mack knows what those look like. Way more so than you would. You build teams around men like Byram. You put letters on their jersey. Byram will be up for your C one day is my guess. He'll have an A on that sweater by the start of next season. You guys played Byram 25 minutes last night. And again.. He's sick. And when he was sick on what I'll generously call a kinda bad hockey team, he put up 1G + one primary apple. Both very nice and skillful plays. Not awful for a guy playing sick on a brand new team that isn't great.

So know this... you are going to look like such a toolbag really soon. Be happy you got Byram. Stop fighting it so much.

I think Power is going to become a very good defender at some point too. I have no qualms with him. I like his upside. He's got a ways to go, but he too has the tools.

Your team is loaded on defense. Enjoy that. Stop whining so much

well said Pilot

 

[sr edler]

I like Mittelstadt a lot but I wonder how he'll fit into Colorado's more high octane pace game, he's more of an old-school slow it down guy.

 

[Jarey Curry]

Im interested to know why exactly wasnt Mittlestadt part of Buffalos plans and also Sean Walker why he wasn't part of Philadelphias plans?

 

[dirtydanglez]

Im interested to know why exactly wasnt Mittlestadt part of Buffalos plans and also Sean Walker why he wasn't part of Philadelphias plans?

$$$ for buffao and philly probably just liked the price.

 

[wetcoast]

Nice reading comprehension.

No I read it fine but why did you even quote me as I was talking about Byram?

Then you go off on a tangent about Middlestat like he is peak Bergeron and then make the Norris comment but no you didn't use the exact wording but instead used the phrase trainwreck.

My reading comprehension is fine but you seem to be all over the place.

 

[EdAVSfan]

And in a game Byram is out of sync with his new team, he's vocal and finding ways to be your best player in that game when he's playing sick and probably tired from the travel.

you'll see very soon that Byram is a natural leader. Very vocal.

Byram and Dahlin have the potential to be the NHL's best pair and be that soon.


Mitts is a RFA after the season and the Avs have little cap space so it's not likely he'll be around long unless he wants to play in Colorado on the low. Avs will be lucky to have him for the balance of his RFA years. But Avs would have struggled to resign Byram after next year too. So same same really.
I suspect Mitts plays 1.3 seasons in Colorado and leaves as a UFA summer of 2025.

What?? You think the Avs are gonna let Mittlestadt leave as a UFA in 1.3 years.

They’re gonna do what’s necessary to sign him long term.
CMac legitimately announce that they were happy and relieved to have the 2C solution solved long term.