Does Mitts still fit into the long term plans?

[allsilverdreams]

It seems that he may be falling out of favor ,he may have to fight just to be on the 3rd or 4th line.
I can see a trade coming where he gets shipped out for a young ?????

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[Gabrielor]

Let me preface this by saying this is under the assumption he works his ass off, and develops the muscle and speed to play at the NHL level.

Fighting for the 2C spot > Fighting for a T6 winger spot > A depth scorer option on the 3rd line

The last of these is the most likely (think Tyson Jost on the Avs)




If you have a Nylander-Jokiharju swap waiting in the wings, you do that. I think Mitts' confidence is toast here, but I also have no idea how he's spent the off-season. If it was looking in a mirror and training, we might have something. If it was doing the minimum for workouts and playing fortnite, move him before the word is out.

 

[brian_griffin]

The thread title presumes he once fit in the long-term plans. It's been at least 10 months since that's true...

 

[BananaSquad]

I don’t know, he’s obviously not Adams or Ralph’s draft pick. If a trade came up that made sense for Adams, I could see him doing it.

 

[gallagt01]

I don't think he should be in the long-term plans until he proves he should be in the long-term plans.

It's one thing to be "in the plans" before you get a chance to prove yourself an effective (or ineffective) NHL player. Jack Quinn, for instance, is "in the plans" right now.

Mittelstadt, though, has proven to be mostly useless at the NHL level (and from what I gather, just OK at the AHL level, though our more frequent Amerk viewers can correct that statement as needed).

We can place blame for his ineffectiveness all we want, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is that he's proven to be ineffective.

Hopefully he can right the course. I'm doubtful.

 

[Havok89]

Without knowing how he’s spent his extended offseason, it’s anyone’s guess.

 

[HaNotsri]

If Mitts becomes a good player he'll be part of the team, if not he'll likely be out of the league. Maybe he'll bounce around for a little bit first.

You can't really plan anything for a player that has showed zero ability to play in the NHL.

 

[joshjull]

I don't think he should be in the long-term plans until he proves he should be in the long-term plans.

It's one thing to be "in the plans" before you get a chance to prove yourself an effective (or ineffective) NHL player. Jack Quinn, for instance, is "in the plans" right now.

Mittelstadt, though, has proven to be mostly useless at the NHL level (and from what I gather, just OK at the AHL level, though our more frequent Amerk viewers can correct that statement as needed).

We can place blame for his ineffectiveness all we want, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is that he's proven to be ineffective.

Hopefully he can right the course. I'm doubtful.

Has he proven that he’s useless at the NHL level? Or did he show he wasn’t ready yet? Its not the same thing.

As to the thread topic in general....

If Mitts is part of a trade to make us better so be it. But giving up on him and trading him to trade him simply because he wasn’t ready seems pretty short sighted. At worst He’s cheap depth in the minors since he has zero leverage in his contract talks. At best he starts developing towards the player we were hoping for.

 

[brian_griffin]

Is he even in the Sabres short term plans? I suppose the 5 new Sabres (Stall, Irwin, Eakin, Rieder, Hall) could use help moving into apartments in a month or two.

 

[joshjull]

Without knowing how he’s spent his extended offseason, it’s anyone’s guess.

Thats going to be huge. I should amend my previous post to say if he doesn’t look like he put a shitload of work in this offseason. Then yes move on from him.

 

[joshjull]

Is he even in the Sabres short term plans?

I would Imagine at least as the #1 center in Rochester.

 

[brian_griffin]

I would Imagine at least as the #1 center in Rochester.

Wholly agree. My sarcasm was it seems a little more challenging for him to be gifted a slot than this time last week. Competition is good. Will be great to see Cozens outperform Casey (no ill Will intended) just to show they have stopped gifting slots. I feel Krueger is about earning it, whereas Botterill wasn’t.

 

[Zach716]

With Hall only guaranteed 1 year (hopefully it becomes long term and he sounds like he would like to make that happen) I think you need to package Mitts to upgrade 3C or D this offseason.

 

[TehDoak]

His status as untouchable "best prospect in hockey" has probably lifted given his disappointing showing so far. That being said, I'm not giving him away. But, if a good deal that could help now came along, the Sabres should listen.

 

[Zach716]

I won't go into specifics or anything for the sake of the kid, but I have some close connections (by chance, I have no insider info besides a couple mutuals) and from what I've heard I am probably as low on him as anyone here. He doesn't seem like a competitor in my opinion, just wants to enjoy the big league lifestyle.

 

[BloFan4Life]

Him and Reinhart do not fit what Kreuger is preaching constantly. When Pegula and Adams talking about attitude changes, both these guys come to mind. They just seem too passive, which the inability to provide constant pressure when out there.

 

[Paxon]

Unless he improves a lot, probably not. That said Staal is probably a one and done so it's not like there is no spot for him if he actually becomes a good player. Does anyone have faith in him at this point? I really doubt it.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I see nothing in his game that excites me. I hope we can shed ourselves of him to a GM that thinks he can cure the kid.

 

[Buffaloed]

His QO was of the 2-way variety unless Adams was drinking bott juice. I expect him to start the season in Rochester and get his trade value up.

 

[Buffaloed]

I won't go into specifics or anything for the sake of the kid, but I have some close connections (by chance, I have no insider info besides a couple mutuals) and from what I've heard I am probably as low on him as anyone here. He doesn't seem like a competitor in my opinion, just wants to enjoy the big league lifestyle.

He'll be able to do that in the Swiss League if he puts in the effort to learn how to yodel.

 

[VaporTrail]

Thinking he gets traded for another player who also needs a "change in scenery"

 

[SundherDome]

Just like any prospect in our pool, he is in the long term future. It is up to him to make a case to be a fixture, if not and someone comes calling for him ..you listen.

 

[MayDay]

Think we need to be patient and hope he’s just a slow developing prospect. He has skill. Hopefully the rest will come with growth.

Sick of watching the Sabres rush prospects, then get frustrated and impatient, then give up on them and ship them out, only to watch them become good productive players on other teams.

 

[Der Jaeger]

His QO was of the 2-way variety unless Adams was drinking bott juice. I expect him to start the season in Rochester and get his trade value up.

I think this plan is what Adams and Krueger have in mind. No reason to move on from Mittelstadt prematurely.

 

[BananaSquad]

His status as untouchable "best prospect in hockey" has probably lifted given his disappointing showing so far. That being said, I'm not giving him away. But, if a good deal that could help now came along, the Sabres should listen.

Who knows, he could still turn into a nice 3C down the road.