Confirmed with Link: Casey Mittelstadt traded to COL for D Bo Byram. Straight up.

[joshjull]

This trade doesn’t make sense from the Sabres pov. I hope there are other moves coming that would make it make sense.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Hows his head? Concussion(s) is in the past?

Ya. Hasn't happened for a while and plenty of players have a history of rebounding fine from concussions these days (Crosby/Bergeron/Skinner etc). He hasn't shied away from contact either. I think it was more a concern the past couple of years.

Excited to see what Bo can do when handed more reigns.

 

[MeenOlViks]

Not happy about this one. At all.

Why draft guys in the first round and then trade them just as they are reaching their prime?

we're getting a #4 overall pick who helped the avs win the cup.
"Also, Byram really helped us to win that cup. I've always said to those who are sulking after Jack Hughes, just be happy that Byram helped us win the cup. And I don't think he was a small piece either, arguably he was the best defenceman in the finals".

 

[old kummelweck]

I don’t know enough about Byram to judge but man, trading Mittelstadt once he finally reaches his level stings

Seems typical. Adams is in love with 'his guys'. Looks like we are going to be in a perpetual development cycle. .

 

[buffalowing88]

This hurts like hell. I guess they may be able to expand the opportunities for Krebs which I like, but I would have rather lost Tuch than Mittelstadt.

 

[TehDoak]

 

[KiwiGriff]

As an Avs fan I'm glad to see how upset you guys are because I haven't seen Mittlestadt much. Excited to see what he can do.

You’ll love him. He’s shown his character over the last couple of years. Didn’t show the production everyone expected from such a skilled prospect … never gave up and never seemed to have a bad attitude.

Then for the last couple of years he has been showing the most effort of anyone in the team, doesn’t get pushed off the puck, keeps possession, shows some great little dangles through people, points coming on as a result

This one sucks as a Sabres fan. Not because I hate getting Byram, but because I hate losing Mitts.

 

[HOOats]

To be fair......Byram does still have legit top 4 ceiling.

It's not just not what we wanted (or frankly needed). He is highly talented.

Top 4 ceiling isn't really anything to write home about though, especially for such a high pick who's still young. I'd say he still has top pair potential, but it's just looking less likely to hit than ever.

There's a chance he pops here and in a year we're all okay with the deal. The odds of that happening are what have everyone a bit freaked (especially because we didn't get like a 2nd too).

 

[toddkaz]

I agree with the Avs poster if Byram reaches his potential we win the trade.

Thats a big if.

 

[Dubi Doo]

To be fair......Byram does still have legit top 4 ceiling.

It's not just not what we wanted (or frankly needed). He is highly talented.

Yeah, but Im tired of waiting for players to grow. The blueline needs that steady, top-4 D who is already developed.

I do like Byram's potential. He's shown some really nice flashes, but I feel this sets the team back, and that irks me.

 

[Gras]

Internal cap.

Don't even want to hear a dissenting argument on that anymore.

We took on salary in the deal so point invalidated

 

[Sabreality]

Ya. Hasn't happened for a while and plenty of players have a history of rebounding fine from concussions these days (Crosby/Bergeron/Skinner etc). He hasn't shied away from contact either. I think it was more a concern the past couple of years.

Excited to see what Bo can do when handed more reigns.

Appreciate your feedback.

 

[dire wolf]

I'm not super excited about this because I really like Casey, but with the number of forward prospects in the system and his contract coming up, it makes sense to trade him for a quality D. Byram hasn't quite lived up to expectations so far, but he's only 22. Righty would have been nice, but they are hard to find. I don't hate it. We won't know how good Byram can be for another 2-3 years.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I’m hoping Krebs takes advantage of the opportunity. I think he can.

 

[Chainshot]

Taking advantage of a team's weakness and being even a tiny bit cut-throat in negotiating wouldn't fit the whole organizational "kumbaya we can't do anything" vibe

If I put my thoughts on this I am sure I would upset a bunch of people. I find their lack of ability is not made palatable by their proclamations of their faith and I will leave it there.

At first glance this looks like a loss. Mitts had leverage with possible arbitration due not in small part because Thompson and Cozens have stunk. They didn’t get bigger or tougher or more defensively focused on the blueline. They also aren’t more robust in terms of health, quite the opposite. The guy is a left shot who has not done well on his offhand side. Perhaps they do want to push Dahlin or Power to the right side permanently but this is more river hockey IMO. And river hockey does not win.

 

[Ace]

This trade doesn’t make sense from the Sabres pov. I hope there are other moves coming that would make it make sense.

it's cheaper next year and the GM isn't good at his job.

It makes every bit of sense for how they operate. It's what people have been complaining about for three years while you argued it wasn't true.

 

[Zman5778]

View attachment 830545

"Trending towards bust" is extraordinarily reactive.

I don't think you'll find many Avs fans that think he's in the process of busting -- he just hasn't gotten a lot of top 4 time in Colorado given the presence of Makar, Toews, Manson and Girard

 

[kirby11]

As an Avs fan I'm glad to see how upset you guys are because I haven't seen Mittlestadt much. Excited to see what he can do.

I think you're selling Byram a bit short. He's had a tough year, but he's been forced to play his offside (probably for this trade) and stuck on the 3rd pair. Bo is a very emotional/cocky guy and thrives under pressure and in the spotlight. There's still been glimpses of that this year, like when we've been on national television.

Also, his injury history is a bit overrated. It's delayed his development but I don't think it's hampered it too much. I think you'll see his value if/when Buffalo returns to the POs

I'm a fan of his and wish him the best. If both players hit their ceilings you guys win this trade.

You're gonna love him. He's developed into everything you want come playoff time. Smart, plays a good enough 200 foot game, has really flourished in terms of his board play and puck possession in the o-zone, can gel pretty easily with a variety of players. Not the fastest or strongest guy, and those shortcomings will be annoying here and there, but he generally knows where to be/how to get to high-danger/high traffic areas and is an effective distributor and a decent finisher. Has pretty good hands, too. Biggest negative over the past two years is he'll almost always refuse to shoot from distance on the powerplay, even when a lane is wide open and shooting is the best option.

 

[joshjull]

Ya. Hasn't happened for a while and plenty of players have a history of rebounding fine from concussions these days (Crosby/Bergeron/Skinner etc). He hasn't shied away from contact either. I think it was more a concern the past couple of years.

Excited to see what Bo can do when handed more reigns.

But he’s not going have “more reigns” as you put it. Not with Dahlin and Power here

 

[misterchainsaw]

It's always possible the Sabres had discussions and knew Middlestadt had no intention of re-signing here in the offseason at any (reasonable) price. At that point you have to take what you can get

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

It's always possible the Sabres had discussions and knew Middlestadt had no intention of re-signing here in the offseason at any (reasonable) price. At that point you have to take what you can get

Pretty sure Mitts said he wanted to stay.

 

[Irie]

When posters were screaming, ADAMS, MAKE A TRADE!", and I said "careful what you wish for". Yeah, this is what I was referring to.

 

[Chainshot]

I can’t remember what I was listening to - I think it was Expected Buffalo - that the ‘06 team was all LHD. I haven’t fact checked that though.

Teppo was a right shot.

 

[joshjull]

It's always possible the Sabres had discussions and knew Middlestadt had no intention of re-signing here in the offseason at any (reasonable) price. At that point you have to take what you can get

Maybe. But at least trade him for something we need. We don’t need another puck rushing lefty.

 

[enthusiast]

What’s the vision?