I disagree. You guys need to start giving Adams more credit. Whatever you might think of him/Pegula/this management group... Nobody at this level is incompetent to the degree they are made out to be on here.
The Mitts decision was two fold. One - Adams clearly didn't want to commit to paying a third, offensively biased centre big money, long term. It makes sense given what he's already commited to TT/Cozens, along with prospects he has in the system, combined with the long term salary / cap structure.
Secondly - he acquired a key piece in Byram. We'd clearly needed to make a big F for D hockey trade for a number of years - this was it. Don't act like Adams gave Mitts away for nothing or that he let him walk via UFA.
I don't know this is true but if so, the idea that paying about 21 mil to three decent Cs is too much is not really looking at the big picture. If Mitts signed for 7x7, the team would have all three at 21 mil for the next six seasons (TT and Cozens deals ending a year earlier). By 2030, would you like to guess or imagine what three top Cs would cost most teams. Right now there are sevens teams paying their top 3 Cs that much, and another seven teams paying at least 18 mil for their top 3 Cs. It would be a great cap value for all three at 21 mil for six years. It would also provide roster flexibility, and if a prospect ever forced somebody out that C would either move to wing or get traded for a good return.
What Buffalo wouldn't have though, is a big roster hole with only hopes for prospects to develop in another 2-4 years, and lame pressers where KA says how hard it is to make trades for impact players.
As for Byram, many posters have echoed my concerns for a type of player that filled a need, not another offense-only LHD. How would we all feel if KA traded Jack Quinn for Carter Hart or Spencer Knight? Ok great...value is about right, but why the hell do we need another promising young goalie for a type of RH FW that we don't have enough of?