Rumor: Mittelstadt to Columbus?

[Richard88]

Frank Seravalli and Friedman both said recently the the Avs are considering moving on from Mittelstadt as he hasn't been a good fit.

The CBJ article below has Mittelstadt as their top trade target, and quotes GM Waddell as wanting to add a forward with term using a high pick.

Trade Market: The Blue Jackets Have Called Themselves Buyers At The Trade Deadline; Here's What That Could Look Like

Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Don Waddell said that the team will be looking to add pieces in advance of the March 7th trade deadline. What could that look like for the Blue Jackets?

www.1stohiobattery.com

We'd like to add a little bit right now, especially up front because were so banged up," said Waddell. "We're not going to give up a top pick for a rental player, that's for sure, but if there's a player that's either got term left or a player that just fits into what we're trying to do here that we can reasonably get for one of our picks ... we're looking at it."

Casey Mittelstadt: The asking price might be too high for Columbus' liking — a player would likely need to be involved — but certainly Mittelstadt checks all the boxes in what the Blue Jackets are looking for: he can play any forward position but is historically a center. He has two years left on his current contract after this year at an affordable term of $5.75 million average annual value. He's on pace for his third consecutive 50-point season. And at 26, he's young enough to potentially be part of a nucleus for years to come. For whatever reason, Mittelstadt just hasn't meshed well with the Colorado Avalanche since being traded there last season. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports that the Avs are willing to move him, but how motivated they would be to do so is unknown.

Mittelstadt has 2 more years left after this season at $5.75m.

CBJ have two 1st round picks this year (their own and Minnesota's from the Jiricek trade), but no 2nd rounders in either 2025 or 2026.

Seems like there could be something brewing here between the two teams, with MacFarland watching multiple CBJ games in person. Perhaps it is to choose return pieces for Mittelstadt, which he can then flip for another 2C? Or maybe he's watching Provorov?

Click to read more...

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

Mittlestadt would be a weird trade for Columbus. They have Monahan, Fantilli, Sillinger, Johnson, Jenner and Kuraly as well as Danforth and Del Bel Belluz all whom can play C.

 

[Nevins]

Mittlestadt would be a weird trade for Columbus. They have Monahan, Fantilli, Sillinger, Johnson, Jenner and Kuraly as well as Danforth and Del Bel Belluz all whom can play C.

Colorado would probably ask Sillinger for Mittlestadt

 

[Viqsi]

Jackets interested in Avs players? That's strange; normally it's the other way around.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I can't imagine Cbus sends a roster player so send him to Cbus for futures, then use those futures to acquire someone else ?

 

[JoeSakic13]

I’m sure Liles will share some of his Pappy Van Winkle if Werenski is willing to waive his NMC.

This is obviously a joke, Liles would never share his Pappy.

 

[stevo61]

Colorado would probably ask Sillinger for Mittlestadt

Doubt Columbus goes for that. Organization seems to really like the player and I think the whole point is to add bodies not just swap.

If this is potentially the player Columbus is looking at I doubt they move a forward for him. Provorov might make more sense off the roster from CBJ's side

 

[lionsDen]

Colorado would be wise to put necas in at center. I don’t know what kind of value mittelstdat has. Interesting.

 

[CanadianHawks]

Provorov is my guess

 

[CBJx614]

Provorov is my guess

I'd do something around him if Gudbranson was closer to returning, the problem is we need both D and forward depth imo.

 

[Thechozen1]

Provorov should have more value even as a rental than Middling-stats. Not sure how he improves Columbus’ chances at a WC spot more than Provorov. He’s terrible.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Provorov should have more value even as a rental than Middling-stats. Not sure how he improves Columbus’ chances at a WC spot more than Provorov. He’s terrible.

Perhaps my favourite thing about this forum are reductive takes like 'He's terrible' when a talented guy is a bad fit on a team.

Then he gets traded, finds his form, and suddenly he was good all along.

 

[Thechozen1]

N

Perhaps my favourite thing about this forum are reductive takes like 'He's terrible' when a talented guy is a bad fit on a team.

Then he gets traded, finds his form, and suddenly he was good all along.

Never been a fan of his going back to his draft year and it appears as he’s just regressed. Don’t believe he’ll ever become a player that changes my opinion of him.

 

[Nevins]

Doubt Columbus goes for that. Organization seems to really like the player and I think the whole point is to add bodies not just swap.

If this is potentially the player Columbus is looking at I doubt they move a forward for him. Provorov might make more sense off the roster from CBJ's side

I understand but Colorado will probably want a center to replace Mittlestadt ... unless they receive a first round pick and then exchange it for a center elsewhere.

 

[57special]

I don't see Mittelstadt being an Evason type player, at all.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Seems like a weird fit

 

[Richard88]

Doubt Columbus goes for that. Organization seems to really like the player and I think the whole point is to add bodies not just swap.

If this is potentially the player Columbus is looking at I doubt they move a forward for him. Provorov might make more sense off the roster from CBJ's side.

What would make sense based on the Waddell quote is that it's a trade like 1st + roster player for Mittelstadt, with CMac scouting them to decide which roster player he wants.

Avs don't really have a proper 4C as Kelly (who has been playing there this season) is more of a winger in truth, and Drury is playing 3C. So Kuraly would probably make the most sense. As in, something around 1st + Kuraly for Mittelstadt.

Could also see CMac wanting to include Miles Wood in an exchange for Kuraly to get out of that contract (they both have $2.5m caphits but Kuraly expires this year and Wood has 5 years left). Given what Waddell said about wanting players with term that might actually appeal to CBJ.

Danforth is another pending UFA forward who could potentially be of interest.

 

[Richard88]

Colorado would probably ask Sillinger for Mittlestadt

Mittelstadt's slow skating is apparently contributing to his poor fit in Colorado, so I doubt they want to swap him for another center (Sillinger) whose biggest issue is also skating.

 

[Coffee]

Mittlestadt would be a weird trade for Columbus. They have Monahan, Fantilli, Sillinger, Johnson, Jenner and Kuraly as well as Danforth and Del Bel Belluz all whom can play C.

They can put him on wing

@majormajor he would good on wing

 

[Richard88]

If the Avs want a prospect from CBJ as part of a bigger deal I could see Charlie Elick being the guy they target.

Manson isn't getting younger and is 1 year away from UFA, so they're going to need to find a replacement for that role soon, but have next to nothing in the pipeline at RHD.

Beyond just being a RHD, Elick is a very good skater which is obviously something that would appeal to Colorado.

Physical, proactive defence is Elick’s game. He’s an explosive backward and lateral skater, which he uses to instantly take the middle, then teleport across the ice and prevent the entry. His stick is seemingly in every lane, tipping every pass or shot inside his wing span. His mobility allows him to stay tight to the off-puck threat, but then easily win the race to a retrieval at the end boards. -EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide

 

[SteelCityCannon]

What would make sense based on the Waddell quote is that it's a trade like 1st + roster player for Mittelstadt, with CMac scouting them to decide which roster player he wants.

Avs don't really have a proper 4C as Kelly (who has been playing there this season) is more of a winger in truth, and Drury is playing 3C. So Kuraly would probably make the most sense. As in, something around 1st + Kuraly for Mittelstadt.

Could also see CMac wanting to include Miles Wood in an exchange for Kuraly to get out of that contract (they both have $2.5m caphits but Kuraly expires this year and Wood has 5 years left). Given what Waddell said about wanting players with term that might actually appeal to CBJ.

Danforth is another pending UFA forward who could potentially be of interest.

I'm not doggin the guy but why would a 40ish point center be worth a first round pick?

 

[Richard88]

I'm not doggin the guy but why would a 40ish point center be worth a first round pick?

Calling him a 40 point center isn't really accurate. He's paced 55 points in his last 3 seasons (148 points in 219 games), and had 9 points in 11 playoff games last spring too.

 

[majormajor]

What would make sense based on the Waddell quote is that it's a trade like 1st + roster player for Mittelstadt

Not interested.

If the Avs are basically giving him away I'd look into it.

They can put him on wing

@majormajor he would good on wing

Okay.

Right now with all of the injuries they could use a player at either position. But long run it gets crowded quickly (at both positions).

So Mittelstadt works as a trial for the rest of the year, where we can see how he fits the club, and if he doesn't fit as well as our other guys, we can pay a 3rd or something to pass him on to the next club. But that's not something the Jackets should pay a lot for, certainly not a 1st.

 

[Coffee]

Not interested.

If the Avs are basically giving him away I'd look into it.




Okay.

Right now with all of the injuries they could use a player at either position. But long run it gets crowded quickly (at both positions).

So Mittelstadt works as a trial for the rest of the year, where we can see how he fits the club, and if he doesn't fit as well as our other guys, we can pay a 3rd or something to pass him on to the next club. But that's not something the Jackets should pay a lot for, certainly not a 1st.

Agreed, a 1st is definitely not the cost

 

[DrunkTurtle]

Mitts is a solid 50+ point center. Responsible defensively and has great vision and passing.

It's just not going to work in Colorado. Bednar is all about speed and that's the area where Mitts can't deliver. Looks like the Avs did not do their homework and targeted the wrong type of player.