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

[KrakenSabresMike]

Sorry you think he’s closer to a 70 point scorer with the Avs and you believe that’s a third line center..?

The Avs may lose this trade from a pure player value stand-point, however from an actual asset perspective it makes much more sense from the Avs. Trades don’t happen in a vacuum, Byram requested a trade and Colorado has Toews and Girard on the left side, with Behrens and Gulyayev as two of the Avs top prospects who also play LHD. Conversely, the Avs center depth prior to this trade was MacKinnon, Colton, RyJo, Wagner with Ritchie in the wings, but likely 3 years out from potentially being a top 6 center.

The Avs window is now and yes it would have been great to land a 2C without moving Byram, but that likely forces managements hand to move out another critical piece to make space for a player that has requested a trade.

He was the Sabres third line center… It’s not super relevant to us what line he plays on for the avalanche, but he was never going to be above cozens and Thompson here. So yes, to us it was trading our third line center. For reference, Thompson had almost 100 points last year and cozens had 70+ as well at 21-22.

Just like byram was only available bc you have folks above him… basically the same argument/situation.

 

[McJedi]

Given Byram's age and potential, I feel like this is a deal that Buffalo makes 10/10 times

The one issue with Byram is the injuries. The head injuries from a few years ago seem in the past and put behind Bo, but he’s also had two lower body injuries last season and again this season. That is something to watch. He's not quite Dach level injury prone, but he's been injured a bunch. Byram has missed a lot of NHL games.

 

[TageGod]

I'm not trying to argue anything with you. I'm saying you don't know enough about CO to weigh in on how he'll play there. At this point no one knows. Buffalo fans are obviously stoked on Byram as they should be. He's exciting without a system, a leash or having to play D in a structured system.

Saying Mitts is going to be what he is based on what he was in Buffalo is like me saying Byram is going to be a 3rd pairing D-man and nothing more based on what he brought to CO. He couldn't jump over vets like Manson or Girard... That said I'm rooting for him and hope he can reach his potential in Buffalo. I think he can if he gets the ice time and better support/coaching than what Buffalo currently has.

What people should really be talking about is the long term fits versus what the players were on their old teams. Colorado may not be a young team, but they have a far better system than Buffalo, better roster, better coaching, better management and is a contender. Players thrive in CO. I'm not saying Mitts will. Heck look at Toews coming over at a similar age.

AT the end of the day for w/e reason fans love to win trades and will argue on the internet for years after a trade for some reason.

He is who he is. Was fine with him, am fine without him. Byram looks great already.

 

[McJedi]

Seems like a fair trade right now.

Seems like Colorado gave up the better piece long term. Will be interesting to look back at this in a few years.

Trade gives Colorado some fire for this years playoffs!!

The Avs have Mitts for 3 more years of team control (including this one)... so it gives them "some fire" for 3 more playoff runs.

 

[McJedi]

He was the Sabres third line center… It’s not super relevant to us what line he plays on for the avalanche, but he was never going to be above cozens and Thompson here. So yes, to us it was trading our third line center. For reference, Thompson had almost 100 points last year and cozens had 70+ as well at 21-22.

Just like byram was only available bc you have folks above him… basically the same argument/situation.

Mitts is a 3C as much as Byram is a middle pair guy.

On most teams, Mitts is a 2C. On many teams, Byram is top pair. That is exactly why this trade happened.

Mitts will be the undisputed 2C in Colorado and he'll get those minutes and ice time opportunities. He'll get a lot of PP time, maybe some PK time, probably on the ice for 6 on 5 situations too. He'll get ice time in OT. He'll very likely put up his best stats of his career in this role. He'll also be playing with the best wingers he's ever had to play with (Nuke and Lex). He'll stake the occasional shift with Makar or Rantanen.

Byram got none of that in Colorado because he was behind Makar and Toews. Two really good players that are every bit top pair level performers.

Now Bo is in Buffalo and he's playing in OT, playing on the PP, will be on your PK too. He'll get 24 minutes a game and his stats will also pop significantly.

 

[DeletedUser539]

Mitts is a great player and so is Byram it was a fair hockey trade mitts was Buffalo's best forward most of the season and is a great player no need to label him a 3c when he was getting top 6 minutes yes he was the odd man out so we got Byram for him who looks like a potential top pair guy win win trade for both teams. Colorado got their 2c and buffalo just absolutely stacked their d-core for the future both teams are happy

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

The Avs have Mitts for 3 more years of team control (including this one)... so it gives them "some fire" for 3 more playoff runs.

Well. Assuming they’re a playoff team the next 2 years.

Nothings a given in the wild Wild West or the nhl.

 

[McJedi]

Well. Assuming they’re a playoff team the next 2 years.

Nothings a given in the wild Wild West or the nhl.

No. Next three. Avs control Mitts thru the 2026 season. He’d be UFA July 2026.

Playoff runs in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

 

[dirtydanglez]

No. Next three. Avs control Mitts thru the 2026 season. He’d be UFA July 2026.

Playoff runs in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

i think you two are saying the same thing. 2024 being 'this' year and 2025 and 2026 being the 'next' two.

 

[Perratrooper]

He was the Sabres third line center… It’s not super relevant to us what line he plays on for the avalanche, but he was never going to be above cozens and Thompson here. So yes, to us it was trading our third line center. For reference, Thompson had almost 100 points last year and cozens had 70+ as well at 21-22.

Just like byram was only available bc you have folks above him… basically the same argument/situation.

I mean I get what you’re saying from a Sabres lineup perspective, although only a week or so ago Cozens was playing wing and Mitts was playing 2C. However I personally feel that when labeling a player you should label them based upon where they would slot rather than where they slot in your lineup. Obviously a matter of opinion, but I feel like it’s easier to label player based on where they fit compared to their peers rather than where they slot in a particular lineup.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

No. Next three. Avs control Mitts thru the 2026 season. He’d be UFA July 2026.

Playoff runs in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

We are saying the same thing. Next 2. They’re in the playoffs this year barring they lose the remainder of their games.

And careful counting chickens before they hatch. Avs might be sellers in 2 years at the deadline. Might make sense for them to move mitts. Anything can happen.

Added fire for this years playoff run for sure. Hopefully they make it in again in the next few years.

 

[dirtydanglez]

@GirardSpinorama @Pierce Hawthorne @Spirits @josra33 @a mangy Meowth @dirtydanglez

Not trying to be that guy, but so far Byram looks like peak Pieterangelo

did you switch to decaf or what?

byram's a stud.

 

[EdAVSfan]

He was the Sabres third line center… It’s not super relevant to us what line he plays on for the avalanche, but he was never going to be above cozens and Thompson here. So yes, to us it was trading our third line center. For reference, Thompson had almost 100 points last year and cozens had 70+ as well at 21-22.

Just like byram was only available bc you have folks above him… basically the same argument/situation.

He WAS the 3rd line center, or do you mean he would have been moving forward?

Because he led your centers in even strength ice time per game. Almost 1:30 more than Thompson and over 2:00 more than Cozens.

So yes, I understand if in the future, he’d be the 3C. But he definitely wasn’t this year.

 

[Patagonia]

Okay. Mitts will always be what he is. Maybe he gets more points next to better wingers, but he had Tuch for a lot of the season. Colorado is not a young team.

AVs core players are still fairly young. Mitts would be surrounded by far superior wingers and dmen, number would dramatically improve. I'm not suggesting he'll exceed Byram, it's the better situation to excel.

Both teams gained as being a win-win on this trade.

 

[Zman5778]

He WAS the 3rd line center, or do you mean he would have been moving forward?

Because he led your centers in even strength ice time per game. Almost 1:30 more than Thompson and over 2:00 more than Cozens.

So yes, I understand if in the future, he’d be the 3C. But he definitely wasn’t this year.

There are a LOT of Sabres fans that are obsessed with the idea of 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line, etc.. and are kind of blind to surrounding issues.

Tage and Cozens have been playing injured a fair bit of the season. Donnie Granato (our HC) unswervingly starts with an even rotation throughout a game and then in the 3rd will play whoever has been playing best to fit a situation. If we need a goal, he plays the players who have been playing best offensively. If we need a goal stopped, he plays the players he feels has been best defensively.

Mitts has, rather unquestionably, been our best forward this year. Yes, he has been "stuck" with lower caliber-wingers....2 of his 3 most common wingers have been Jordan Greenway and Zach Benson -- two great two-way players that have left some to be desired offensively this year.

He will be the unquestioned 2C in Colorado.....and frankly, that's his best spot on a good team.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

I mean I get what you’re saying from a Sabres lineup perspective, although only a week or so ago Cozens was playing wing and Mitts was playing 2C. However I personally feel that when labeling a player you should label them based upon where they would slot rather than where they slot in your lineup. Obviously a matter of opinion, but I feel like it’s easier to label player based on where they fit compared to their peers rather than where they slot in a particular lineup.

Fair point but by that logic byram is a top pair defenseman ( and that is where he will play in Buffalo)

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

There are a LOT of Sabres fans that are obsessed with the idea of 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line, etc.. and are kind of blind to surrounding issues.

Tage and Cozens have been playing injured a fair bit of the season. Donnie Granato (our HC) unswervingly starts with an even rotation throughout a game and then in the 3rd will play whoever has been playing best to fit a situation. If we need a goal, he plays the players who have been playing best offensively. If we need a goal stopped, he plays the players he feels has been best defensively.

Mitts has, rather unquestionably, been our best forward this year. Yes, he has been "stuck" with lower caliber-wingers....2 of his 3 most common wingers have been Jordan Greenway and Zach Benson -- two great two-way players that have left some to be desired offensively this year.

He will be the unquestioned 2C in Colorado.....and frankly, that's his best spot on a good team.

No one is blind to anything including that we don’t have traditional lines 1 2 and 3 But tell me with a straight face Buffalo was prepared to play and pay mitts as equal to or above cozens or tage? No they were not …therefore he is not one of the top 2 c as valued by the team. Which is clear by the the fact they traded him and not one of the other 2 to round out their D.

 

[toddkaz]

Bowen Byram played fantastic in his two games. I am eating crow.

 

[Voight]

More like do the Avalanche know something about Kevyn Adams that others don't?

Dude only got the job because of Pegulas incompetence.

 

[Zman5778]

No one is blind to anything including that we don’t have traditional lines 1 2 and 3 But tell me with a straight face Buffalo was prepared to play and pay mitts as equal to or above cozens or tage?

That has nothing to do with how Mitts has played this year and where he's been played this year.....or where his best spot in a lineup is.

 

[Zman5778]

Dude only got the job because of Pegulas incompetence.

It's way more because of Pegula's mistrust.


Don't get me wrong -- I'm not sure Adams is competent. Hell, I'm not really sure that Pegula is competent.

But the hire was made because Pegula trusted Adams and he had lost trust in whatever firm/committee/etc the NHL uses to assist owners in finding POHO and/or GMs.

 

[Voight]

It's way more because of Pegula's mistrust.


Don't get me wrong -- I'm not sure Adams is competent. Hell, I'm not really sure that Pegula is competent.

But the hire was made because Pegula trusted Adams and he had lost trust in whatever firm/committee/etc the NHL uses to assist owners in finding POHO and/or GMs.

Fair point. I also think some guys who would typically be top candidates declined to take the job or interview.

 

[Zman5778]

Fair point. I also think some guys who would typically be top candidates declined to take the job or interview.

It's certainly possible. But I think that a lot of GMs/POHOs have a certain ego/confidence/whatever to them that says that if they are successful in Buffalo, they would be treated like a God (which is true). Gotta think that appeals to a lot of people.

 

[McJedi]

There are a LOT of Sabres fans that are obsessed with the idea of 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line, etc.. and are kind of blind to surrounding issues.

Tage and Cozens have been playing injured a fair bit of the season. Donnie Granato (our HC) unswervingly starts with an even rotation throughout a game and then in the 3rd will play whoever has been playing best to fit a situation. If we need a goal, he plays the players who have been playing best offensively. If we need a goal stopped, he plays the players he feels has been best defensively.

Mitts has, rather unquestionably, been our best forward this year. Yes, he has been "stuck" with lower caliber-wingers....2 of his 3 most common wingers have been Jordan Greenway and Zach Benson -- two great two-way players that have left some to be desired offensively this year.

He will be the unquestioned 2C in Colorado.....and frankly, that's his best spot on a good team.

isn’t Zach Benson just 18 years old?

 

[McJedi]

Bowen Byram played fantastic in his two games. I am eating crow.

He’s an incredible talent. A true number 1. He’s not as good as Makar. He’s not as polished at Toews.

So the Avs gave him a tough role. Be our number 3 and carry weaker lines and weaker D partners. Get little PP time and be a 5 vs 5 workhorse that skews defensive.

It’ll have made him better defensively than his peers. Byram is definitely better defensively than Makar. Much more physical in the corners and particularly in front of the net.

But his offensive game was stagnated by his poor teammate quality and role this season.

Freed from scrubs like RyJo and Jack Johnson, he should explore. Also helps to get away from our inept 3rd line (Colton - Wood and LOC) three guys that are heavy players but where offense goes to die.