Speculation: Revisiting Byram vs. Mittlestadt

[TageGod]

Was not a need for Buffalo actually, Byram is redundant here. Better to flip him for the Mitts replacement we actually need.

 

[DickSmehlik]

I think they viewed Mitts as a 3C who would be expensive

Bingo.

They didn't want to tie up $7 million plus of a shrinking cap on someone who was going to be their 3rd line center, when they already had Tage and Cozens locked into long term deals.

Also, with offensive prospects that needed top 9 spots in Buffalo, Casey was viewed as expendable.

You can argue that they picked the wrong 2 C, but that was their logic and I am not convinced that the team, or Casey would be any better with the Sabres than he was with the team previously (judging by his play with Colorado).

 

[McJedi]

Bingo.

They didn't want to tie up $7 million plus of a shrinking cap on someone who was going to be their 3rd line center, when they already had Tage and Cozens locked into long term deals.

Also, with offensive prospects that needed top 9 spots in Buffalo, Casey was viewed as expendable.

You can argue that they picked the wrong 2 C, but that was their logic and I am not convinced that the team, or Casey would be any better with the Sabres than he was with the team previously (judging by his play with Colorado).

I think that is probably the real truth. Buffalo picked the wrong 2C with Cozens.

If the Sabers offered Cozens for Mittlestadt... I'd be a very easy and firm NO! from the Avs perspective.

 

[Zman5778]

Who the heck constructed this roster?

what the hell is Buffalo's GM doing?

Adams constructed this roster, and most of the Sabrehood has ZERO FREAKING CLUE what Adams is doing other than stockpiling talent with little regard to building a team.

 

[Djp]

Bingo.

They didn't want to tie up $7 million plus of a shrinking cap on someone who was going to be their 3rd line center, when they already had Tage and Cozens locked into long term deals.

Also, with offensive prospects that needed top 9 spots in Buffalo, Casey was viewed as expendable.

You can argue that they picked the wrong 2 C, but that was their logic and I am not convinced that the team, or Casey would be any better with the Sabres than he was with the team previously (judging by his play with Colorado).

I also think they targeted a 3C at under $4.5M ...they acquired McLeod


They also have Krebs who could play 3C

Dont forget in their prospect puoeline they had ...

drafted Ostlund, in 2 at C and start ELC in AHL in 24/25

Drafted Kulich in 22 who they thought could play center. He played last 2 yrs in sliding contract in A, expect on sabres during year

Drafted in 21 Tyson Kozak latd in the drsft. Hes playing in nhl and forecast to be bottom 6 center

In 24 draft the picked Helenius

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

As long as Byram stays healthy he's a vastly superior player. But Colorado dealt from strength to patch a weakness so it made sense for them.

 

[sting101]

I think that is probably the real truth. Buffalo picked the wrong 2C with Cozens.

If the Sabers offered Cozens for Mittlestadt... I'd be a very easy and firm NO! from the Avs perspective.

And you would regret that NO in a couple yrs if not sooner

It sounds like Adams thought he had a trade for a topC in place that fell apart last summer.

I'm gonna guess Byram was part of a deal with acquiring Necas before Carolina got him to come around

 

[The Abusement Park]

Haven't watched him much since the trade, but unless it's something injury-related I'd be surprised if he didn't get back to being a useful top 6 center for you guys. He's been pretty consistent for more than two years now, including a solid play-off performance.

He had a bit of a slow start post trade, but that's pretty common in CO as players get used to the system. But right at the end of the season he turned a corner and in the playoffs he was unbelievable. Then he started off this year even better and then this slump has just hit so randomly and so hard that I'd guess it has to be injury related.

 

[weremarkar]

Av's fan happy with Mitt's I think he's a little banged up from the start of the playoffs till around game 15 he was great. Shooting tons for him, winning battles, etc.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

If Mitts can continue to develop and find a way to consistently perform like how he did in the playoffs and during the start of the season then it’ll worked out wonderful for the Avs. Bo is great, but I just don’t think he would’ve developed into what he can on the Avs.

 

[Daz28]

I'm surprised no one mentioned that Bo's giveaways basically won the game for the Avs. If he can clean that part of his game up, and keep the points coming, Buffalo clearly wins the trade. At this point though, he's not headed in the right direction, as he's never had a year with less giveaways, and this year is his worst ratio yet.

 

[Chainshot]

I'm surprised no one mentioned that Bo's giveaways basically won the game for the Avs. If he can clean that part of his game up, and keep the points coming, Buffalo clearly wins the trade. At this point though, he's not headed in the right direction, as he's never had a year with less giveaways, and this year is his worst ratio yet.

Thought the GTG was on their forwards for being inept at defending the slot guy and then Thompson went brain dead in OT to turn the puck over leading to Toews GWG.

 

[Daz28]

Thought the GTG was on their forwards for being inept at defending the slot guy and then Thompson went brain dead in OT to turn the puck over leading to Toews GWG.

Yeah, not sure which goal, but Bo got picked off on a stretch pass. The OT was def on Tage. More of a lost puck battle than a clean giveaway, though.

 

[Petes2424]

It’s a hard trade to grade because it’s far from over at this point. Part of Colorado making the trade, was due to the upcoming contract for Byrum, that was always going to be pretty messy for a team with cap issues. In fact, messy for any team not seeing Byrum in the same way he views himself. Remember, he’s already on his bridge deal. He wants to get paid.

Arbitration Rights are a real big deal these days, and not in a good way for teams. Especially if the player would have lots of comparable ammunition. Byrum is one of those players, who’s gonna look much better to an arbitrator, than he is to a GM. Far too many monster contracts given to young, unproven dmen, and Byrum is the exact type of player who can cash-in on those at the arbitration table.

Not only that, he can end up with a massive qualifying offer as soon as the summer of 2026. One which would see any trade value disappear immediately, as teams know who he actually is, not what the paperwork says.

On the surface Buffalo should win this trade in a landslide because Mittlestadt still can’t find any consistency in the NHL, and he’s so bad defensively BUT the upcoming contract/forced trade, “Byrum situation”, may change everything. You watch him tonight, and you’d laugh at a team ever thinking about giving him a wealth contract. Vegas exploited Byrum’s weaknesses all night. Eichel toyed with him, taking him wide twice in the 3rd period. Most NHL dmen don’t get taken wide (in the traditional sense) once in a season anymore.

I don’t think the Sabres are gonna be that stupid though. They know what Byrum is, and it’s exactly why they have him protected playing with Dahlin, and not given more responsibilities playing with Power. Where he’d be much more exposed. Also, exactly why they’re very likely listening to teams right now, and not handing Byrum the big money.

As they should be listening. They took the chance with him over this last year, and now it’s time to make the decision.

If they want to keep him, then just suck it up and overpay him. Just hand him the $8.5 long-term and move forward. He’s in the driver’s seat with his arbitration rights.

Those same arbitration rights are obviously going to effect any team trading for him too. How much will it effect his value? We don’t know that answer yet. If you’re surprised at any lower return Buffalo gets, that’s gonna be your answer. Teams will be hesitant and would likely want a deal immediately. If they go into it blind, they’re not paying what some fans might think.

His situation is much deeper than just trading for an offensive dman who’s making $3.85 million this year, thinking your team is going to get away with $6.5-$7 million going forward.

The speculation we’ve been hearing about Byrum isn’t just speculation either. That’s real agent leak talk with Friedman’s report. Now, he’s probably open to other situations where he’s not gonna get the chance to be a #1, but he’s looking for somewhere he gets the chance to be on a #1 PP for example, and playing on a 2nd pairing where he can carry the pairing, or at least share in those responsibilities.

The “Buffalo thing” is also very real for players too. He’s only 23 and if he has to go through an uncomfortable year or two, he’ll do it, to get what he wants. All while he enjoys a massive arbitration ruling.

I just can’t see him being in Buffalo much longer. He doesn’t want to be known as Dahlin’s sidekick, and he has the chance to use this contract negotiation, as his ticket out of town.

So when that trade goes down, we’ll then get a better gauge on who won the Byrum/Mittlestadt trade. Assuming Mittlestadt is still in Colorado.

Be funny if they both end up on the same team. With Colorado not having much prospect or draft capital, Mittlestadt might be who they try using to upgrade this deadline. Problem is, at $5.6 million and playing this bad defensively, what can they really get for Mittlestadt at 26 years old? The points don’t come close to outweighing how bad he’s been on the other end. They’d be a better hockey team having JT Compher back at that price.

As of today, Buffalo still wins by a mile because Byrum has fit pretty well as Dahlin’s sidekick. Any initial joy Colorado felt after the trade, and to start this season, is long over with just how bad Mittlestadt has been.

So Buffalo for sure, but this one is subject to change at anytime now.

 

[MOGlLNY]

It’s a hard trade to grade because it’s far from over at this point. Part of Colorado making the trade, was due to the upcoming contract for Byrum, that was always going to be pretty messy for a team with cap issues. In fact, messy for any team not seeing Byrum in the same way he views himself. Remember, he’s already on his bridge deal. He wants to get paid.

Arbitration Rights are a real big deal these days, and not in a good way for teams. Especially if the player would have lots of comparable ammunition. Byrum is one of those players, who’s gonna look much better to an arbitrator, than he is to a GM. Far too many monster contracts given to young, unproven dmen, and Byrum is the exact type of player who can cash-in on those at the arbitration table.

Not only that, he can end up with a massive qualifying offer as soon as the summer of 2026. One which would see any trade value disappear immediately, as teams know who he actually is, not what the paperwork says.

On the surface Buffalo should win this trade in a landslide because Mittlestadt still can’t find any consistency in the NHL, and he’s so bad defensively BUT the upcoming contract/forced trade, “Byrum situation”, may change everything. You watch him tonight, and you’d laugh at a team ever thinking about giving him a wealth contract. Vegas exploited Byrum’s weaknesses all night. Eichel toyed with him, taking him wide twice in the 3rd period. Most NHL dmen don’t get taken wide (in the traditional sense) once in a season anymore.

I don’t think the Sabres are gonna be that stupid though. They know what Byrum is, and it’s exactly why they have him protected playing with Dahlin, and not given more responsibilities playing with Power. Where he’d be much more exposed. Also, exactly why they’re very likely listening to teams right now, and not handing Byrum the big money.

As they should be listening. They took the chance with him over this last year, and now it’s time to make the decision.

If they want to keep him, then just suck it up and overpay him. Just hand him the $8.5 long-term and move forward. He’s in the driver’s seat with his arbitration rights.

Those same arbitration rights are obviously going to effect any team trading for him too. How much will it effect his value? We don’t know that answer yet. If you’re surprised at any lower return Buffalo gets, that’s gonna be your answer. Teams will be hesitant and would likely want a deal immediately. If they go into it blind, they’re not paying what some fans might think.

His situation is much deeper than just trading for an offensive dman who’s making $3.85 million this year, thinking your team is going to get away with $6.5-$7 million going forward.

The speculation we’ve been hearing about Byrum isn’t just speculation either. That’s real agent leak talk with Friedman’s report. Now, he’s probably open to other situations where he’s not gonna get the chance to be a #1, but he’s looking for somewhere he gets the chance to be on a #1 PP for example, and playing on a 2nd pairing where he can carry the pairing, or at least share in those responsibilities.

The “Buffalo thing” is also very real for players too. He’s only 23 and if he has to go through an uncomfortable year or two, he’ll do it, to get what he wants. All while he enjoys a massive arbitration ruling.

I just can’t see him being in Buffalo much longer. He doesn’t want to be known as Dahlin’s sidekick, and he has the chance to use this contract negotiation, as his ticket out of town.

So when that trade goes down, we’ll then get a better gauge on who won the Byrum/Mittlestadt trade. Assuming Mittlestadt is still in Colorado.

Be funny if they both end up on the same team. With Colorado not having much prospect or draft capital, Mittlestadt might be who they try using to upgrade this deadline. Problem is, at $5.6 million and playing this bad defensively, what can they really get for Mittlestadt at 26 years old? The points don’t come close to outweighing how bad he’s been on the other end. They’d be a better hockey team having JT Compher back at that price.

As of today, Buffalo still wins by a mile because Byrum has fit pretty well as Dahlin’s sidekick. Any initial joy Colorado felt after the trade, and to start this season, is long over with just how bad Mittlestadt has been.

So Buffalo for sure, but this one is subject to change at anytime now.

If I wasn’t sure if Pegula refusing to pay EP’s 10 million dollar bonus I’d say Byram + for EP is a sure thing

 

[Bruce Granville]

Avs were in desperate need if #2C and therefore had to overpay for Mitts.
Byram was and is the better player in a vacuum. Only issue was his injury history.
That being said, I think both teams got better.