Speculation: Revisiting Byram vs. Mittlestadt

[randywoodsghost]

As the Sabres get ready to take on the Avs for a second time this season, how would you rate this trade as of now?

For a while, many thought the Sabres got hosed but I am not so sure. I’ll admit Indont watch Casey as much anymore put his numbers are surprisingly pedestrian, especially his defensive metrics. I thought for sure with Colorado, his numbers would explode but he’s on pace for career averages.

Bryam has been a surprise for Buffalo. He plays big minutes, and has been a surprise offensively.

I meant to bump the trade thread but I can’t seem to find it however the tone was generally the Sabres got worked.

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[LemonSauceD]

Buffalo

 

[ryan callahan]

I mean tbh the trade is a bunch of meh. Byram is #3 on the hierarchy of puck moving Ds in Buffalo while Mittelstadt hasn't been able to separate himself from the Colton/Drouin middle 6 tier in Colorado.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

I think I’d rather Byram in a vacuum. With some pp 1 time I think he’d really pop ( somewhere not Buffalo given Dahlin presence) .

 

[HaNotsri]

Buffalo has messed up center depth, Byram is rumored to want a 1d role and Mitts is underperforming in Colorado.

 

[Beerz]

Byram has been great.

Still wish the trade never happened even with Mitts struggling in Col

 

[CowbellConray]

Byram has had a REALLY good year. Him and Dahlin together is a great top pairing. He doesn't get PP time over Rasmus, but if the Sabres can extend him their defense is shaping up to be really good

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Give me Mittelstadt all day. Going through a slump but he'll break out of it and he showed us what he's capable of already.


Byram just isn't very good.

 

[Rowlet]

Buffalo wins this in a vacuum but Colorado needs Middlestadt more.

Ironically, Buffalo now has the problem that Colorado had, having an extra Bowen Byram. If they flip him for more or make another trade for a top 6 C they probably win this handily.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Give me Mittelstadt all day. Going through a slump but he'll break out of it and he showed us what he's capable of already.


Byram just isn't very good.

What do you base your opinion on in regards to Byram ?

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

Buffalo wins this in a vacuum but Colorado needs Middlestadt more.

Ironically, Buffalo now has the problem that Colorado had, having an extra Bowen Byram. If they flip him for more or make another trade for a top 6 C they probably win this handily.

This is how I see it also. They really don't need Byram, but he would fetch a pretty good top 6 forward.. one probably better then Mitts.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Still pretty even in a vacuum IMO. Both have shown flashes with their new teams and some struggles. Casey was one of the Avs best players to start the year but has struggled ever since they began to get healthy. He scored last game so maybe that will spark him.

Best to reevaluate this after Byram's next contract and Mitts' playoff performance. What do Bo's contract demands look like? Does he only sign a deal that walks him to UFA to try to find a bigger role in a new home? Does Mitts falter as the 2C in the POs?

 

[Rowlet]

This is how I see it also. They really don't need Byram, but he would fetch a pretty good top 6 forward.. one probably better then Mitts.

Yeah, I think the Avalanche got screwed a bit because they needed exactly a 2nd line centre, and there weren't a ton available, I'd argue Middlestadt isn't a great one either. The Sabres on the other hand have a lot of needs to fill, so they can take the best player available to them, be it at centre or wing.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Give me Mittelstadt all day. Going through a slump but he'll break out of it and he showed us what he's capable of already.


Byram just isn't very good.

You clearly haven’t paid any attention to Byram since the trade.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

You clearly haven’t paid any attention to Byram since the trade.

I'm gonna go ahead and trust the 4 year sample size that I have watched over the ~25 good games he's had this year.


This is also part of his problem. He'll give you 25 games where he looks good and then 20 games where he doesn't even look like an NHLer.


Which quite frankly has also been the case with Mittelstadt this year.

 

[SEALBound]

I think both teams got what they were looking for.

 

[DickSmehlik]

I think many knew Bryam would be a solid player if he stayed healthy.

Well see what Bryam does long term with the team but I think the Sabres dodged a bullet in not giving Casey a long term extension.

 

[Fjordy]

Byram has been decent, though mostly only when paired with Dahlin. But I'm not sure he'll start next season with Sabres.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Give me Mittelstadt all day. Going through a slump but he'll break out of it and he showed us what he's capable of already.


Byram just isn't very good.

Sounds like stat watching.

If a player is good, he is always good. Scoring slumps are fine but Casey seems to be on a bit of a “playing well” slump, which is different.

Byram is the same player he’s been for a while, and so is Casey. They roughly both still hold the same value as each other imo.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Byram is the better player and has more potential. Mitts is still the best fit for the Avs.

 

[Hennessy]

Too early. Give it a whole season.
It's not even about performance with Byram. As others have noted it's also about value. What he can return or what he allows Power to be traded for.

Avs traded from a position of strength for one of need. I'm not sure what Buffalo was looking for. Value? They got the more dynamic guy with a higher potential ceiling, albeit along with some risk, but it's not as if they were starved for a young stud defenseman.

We'll see how it shakes out.

 

[dirtydanglez]

avs lost the trade but addressed a need. they likely go on a cup run this season.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I’d still rather have Mittlestadt on the Sabres.

 

[TheNumber4]

A need for need trade. Not every trade needs to be or is a fleecing.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Good trade for both teams.