Casey Mittelstadt traded for Bowen Byram

[Derrico]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

It's just confusing from a team building perspective and if he doesn't stay healthy or return to form, we fail... again. 

Just as much risk we overpay Mitts and he reverts to who he has been most of his career.  

[Thorner]

4 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

My guess would be any other defenseman outside of Dahlin, Power and Byram become trade assets besides R. Johnson who'd be our cheapest dman with a bridge more than likely. 

 

[Weave]

I’ve accused KA of playing it safe in the past.  Low risk, low reward.

Maybe I need to rethink that.  The goalie situation this season was probably high risk, although I don’t see a high reward potential.  Moving Mitts is pretty high risk as well, and Byram sure had high reward potential.

You are putting even more of your money of Tage/Cozens now.  And Krebs too, for that matter.  The flip side is, does Byram approach Dahlin level effective?  What then?  Is ther room for those two and Power?  Do we suddenly have a very high value chip to cash in?

All I know is, it better start paying off in October 2024.

[Derrico]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Going to miss Casey. I really respect the way he has overcome adversity and have enjoyed watching him play.

I also think he is going to be missed in the room.

This trade gives the Avs a better chance at winning the cup this year and I don't blame them for making it. Can Sabrespace handle yet another good centre traded to the eventually cup winner.

That said, I'm left with the impression Adams stood his ground his evaluation and made the Avs pay a price they didn't really want to pay.

Hope this is one of those deals where both teams benefit.

***

Unrelated, I was not at all expecting a major deal involving core pieces. Glad to see it happen and glad to see some life injected into the board.

I have some reading to catch up on.

This is one of my biggest concerns.  He and Dahlin were bff.

[Weave]

Man, Casey gonna go from a best buds locker room to Nathan Mackinnon running the show and putting ***** straight.

But he’ll win.  Lucky bastard.

[msw2112]

For those who wanted Adams to make a high-profile move, you got your wish.

I'm not a big fan of trade, given that Byram's skillset seems to be similar to what the team already has.  Dahlin and Power are both talented "puck moving" defensemen, and Ryan Johnson and Jokiharju also skate well with the puck.  The team really needs a physical presence on the blue line.  Clifton plays physical, but is small and not highly skilled.

On the offensive side, Mittlestadt has been one of the team's few forwards who was strong along the boards and gave maximum effort all the time, while also displaying a high level of skill.  Do any of the many young forwards in the pipeline play that style?  I know there's skill, but is there the grit and determination along the boards, which this team sorely needs?  I can only think that Mittlestadt's representation were in discussions with Adams about an extension and they were not seeing eye-to-eye.  Rather than having a disgruntled player and bad PR, Adams made a move. 

If Byram can stay healthy, the value is there.  He's a high draft pick with NHL experience, has shown high-end ability, and is still young.  I just don't see it as a fit for the Sabres' needs.

Edited March 7 by msw2112

[tom webster]

7 minutes ago, Derrico said:

This is one of my biggest concerns.  He and Dahlin were bff.

I’m sorry, given what’s been going on in the room the last couple months, the room is the least of my concerns.

[dudacek]

Guy this affects the most off the hop is Peyton Krebs, who should be the 3C for the remainder of the year, and with the likely moves of Girgs and Okposo moves from 10-11 on the depth chart to more like a 7-8 slot.

Looks like that really was a test drive they gave him a week or so back.

Edited March 6 by dudacek

[Thorner]

14 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It's just confusing from a team building perspective and if he doesn't stay healthy or return to form, we fail... again. 

This is exactly it. Team building. 

We are at that point. It’s not about the long term cap or long term success or this guy’s potential. What does it do for the team, right now. Is the likelihood we make the playoffs next season greater, or lesser, because of this deal? It’s the only factor that matters to me, the solitary bit that is not noise 

13 minutes ago, Derrico said:

I have as many doubts as you regarding KA.  But I don't see why this wouldn't be a strong possibility.

I think, for me, I would need to hear KA say he THINKS the deal makes us better, next season. Not merely a possibility.

He would say he definitely feels like he won the trade, right? That’s the implication of making the trade at all. Like we can start there, right?  Or he wouldn’t have made it.

So he thinks the trade will make us better. Would he say he feels the most likely scenario is that Byram is better than Casey NEXT year? Would he say he thinks it’s a toss up who improves the team more next season? Would he say he thinks it’s slightly more likely Mittelstadt represents the better player next season, but he likes the long term projection?

To me, the first 2 are fine

The third option would be unacceptable

Basically, the only part of his evaluation I care about is who he thinks will be better NEXT year  

If Adams think it will improve the team next season, he needs to make it because he needs to fail or succeed by a true installation of his plan. It’s the only way it can be fairly judged. I want him to make that move

If Adams made the deal because he think it’s short term pain for long term gain, I absolutely hate it and don’t need to see anything more 

 

Edited March 6 by Thorny

[pi2000]

My hope with this trade is we never have to see Bryson in Sabres uni ever again.

[msw2112]

1 hour ago, Thorny said:

Bowy will fit right in with Cozy and Krebsy. Want to be here. 

Must be nice to be a young professional athlete.....

[Weave]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

This is exactly it. Team building. 

We are at that point. It’s not about the long term cap or long term success or this guy’s potential. What does it do for the team, right now. Is the likelihood we make the playoffs next season greater, or lesser, because of this deal? It’s the only factor that matters to me, the solitary bit that is not noise  

It seems to Me that we can’t take this trade in a vacuum.  There has to be alot more to the plan.

[Believer]

7 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

I know there's skill, but is there the grit and determination along the boards, which this team sorely needs? 

Krebs likes to scrape along the wall… Digging for the puck… Kid is fearless.

[Thorner]

15 minutes ago, Derrico said:

Just as much risk we overpay Mitts and he reverts to who he has been most of his career.  

That’s why I prefer to operate based on achieving a goal next season. An eye to results. It creates a scenario where we need not fear either. We didn’t need to commit long term this summer to Casey 

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Guy this affects the most off the hop is Peyton Krebs, who should be the 3C for the remainder of the year, and with the likely moves of Girgs and Okposo moves from 10-11 on the depth chart to more like a 7-8 slot.

Looks like that really was a test drive they gave him a week or so back.

The tragedy would be pencilling Krebs into 3C next year based on his finish and not the season as a whole 

[Getpucksdeep]

16 minutes ago, Derrico said:

This is one of my biggest concerns.  He and Dahlin were bff.

 

13 minutes ago, Weave said:

Man, Casey gonna go from a best buds locker room to Nathan Mackinnon running the show and putting ***** straight.

But he’ll win.  Lucky bastard.

This is why I like the trade.

[Night Train]

Team has already seen several  "revert back" after getting paid recently. Not Mitts fault but can't keep overpaying. 

[Crusader1969]

59 minutes ago, Thorny said:

 

That's a joke of a prospect ranking!   There is no way they are 17th.  The leafs ahead of the Sabres ??  They have 1 prospect that I know of 

 

[Thorner]

6 minutes ago, Weave said:

It seems to Me that we can’t take this trade in a vacuum.  There has to be alot more to the plan.

Of course. My question is, does the deal in KA’s mind help facilitate a better team next season? Or does it help facilitate a better team down the line 

I only care about the former. Literally 

1 minute ago, Crusader1969 said:

That's a joke of a prospect ranking!   There is no way they are 17th.  The leafs ahead of the Sabres ??  They have 1 prospect that I know of 

 

Don’t schouch the messenger 

[mjd1001]

31 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Question: As mentioned, I can definitely see the talent with Byram. From a team building standpoint I find it confusing. But, for someone/those more confident than me in this trade ending up beneficial: Do you see the trade potentially improving the team as soon as next season? Would you argue that is likely? Or is that more best case scenario, with your likely estimation being we see net improvement further down the line? 

What say you? I’m open to the idea Byram could end up the better player but it literally only matters, for me, if it can happen for next season 

I can't make a great case for things, but, as usual, it 'depends' on what else happens from now until next season.

-Is Tage playing through a wrist, and maybe foot injury and will return to his form on the past 2 seasons (40 goal, top line center).  Has Cozens 'gotten religion' in terms of play in his own end (which he SEEMS to have, at least in the last month), making him your legit 2 way center?

-Maybe the Sabres, through is practice and play, see a "Mitts like" jump in Krebs play from this year to next, and you have him as your 3c.  I need to see a lot more from him, I haven't liked Krebs since he got here as anything more than an 'average-at-best' player, but they might be seeing something I haven't yet.

-What other trades might be made, now or in the offseason.

-What other players might sign here in the offseason.

I can't give names, but suppose the Sabres find/trade for a Veteran, 2-way Center that gives you 15 goals and 25-30 assists on the 3rd line...while Tage and Cozens pick their games back up.

A lot of "ifs" in there, but that is the case for the potential of it helping out.   What I remmeber of Byram is 2 years ago he looked great, and I mean GREAT in the Avs cup run.  I didn't know much about him going into the playoffs but when I saw them play I was thinking "how did they end up with ANOTHER guy this good on the blueline"  Of course, he has the injury risk.  But I truly believe the potential is there for him to be a better player long term than Mitts, now its just up to the organization to fill in the gaps in the roster.

Edited March 6 by mjd1001

[JoeSchmoe]

Byram is a below 50% expected goal player THE COLORADO AVALANCHE. Clifton was a below 50% on THE BOSTON BRUINS.

Why are we paying for stats gurus in our front office when our GM's M.O. is to take other teams' table scraps?!?!

Edited March 6 by JoeSchmoe

[Crusader1969]

Just now, Crusader1969 said:

That's a joke of a prospect ranking!   There is no way they are 17th.  The leafs ahead of the Sabres ??  They have 1 prospect that I know of 

 

I should have said "who had them ranked as avg besides scouching?"  

 

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

Of course. My question is, does the deal in KA’s mind help facilitate a better team next season? Or does it help facilitate a better team down the line 

I only care about the former. Literally 

Don’t schouch the messenger 

I actually used to listen to his podcast weekly (before he went on hiatus) and thought he was pretty good

But his prospect ranking is wrong 

[Weave]

Just now, Thorny said:

Of course. My question is, does the deal in KA’s mind help facilitate a better team next season? Or does it help facilitate a better team down the line 

I only care about the former. Literally 

I can’t get to, Casey was traded solely to avoid a payday.  At least not yet, lol.

Cash spent at center may certainly be a factor, but there has to be a plan that involves boosting the team overall.  At least, I think there has to be.

I am holding out hope that this is move 1 of 3 or 4 moves through draft day that that retools the team.  

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, mjd1001 said:

I can't make a great case for things, but, as usual, it 'depends' on what else happens from now until next season.

-Is Tage playing through a wrist, and maybe foot injury and will return to his form on the past 2 seasons (40 goal, top line center).  Has Cozens 'gotten religion' in terms of play in his own end (which he SEEMS to have, at least in the last month), making him your legit 2 way center?

-What other trades might be made, now or in the offseason.

-What other players might sign here in the offseason.

I can't give names, but suppose the Sabres find/trade for a Veteran, 2-way Center that gives you 15 goals and 25-30 assists on the 3rd line...while Tage and Cozens pick their games back up.

A lot of "ifs" in there, but that is the case for the potential of it helping out.   What I remmeber of Byram is 2 years ago he looked great, and I mean GREAT in the Avs cup run.  I didn't know much about him going into the playoffs but when I saw them play I was thinking "how did they end up with ANOTHER guy this good on the blueline"  Of course, he has the injury risk.  But I truly believe the potential is there for him to be a better player long term than Mitts, now its just up to the organization to fill in the gaps in the roster.

We can simply wait and judge based on the results, that part is easy enough

my question is a different one: does KA, in his heart of hearts, in your estimation, think he’s making the team better next season, through this move, and it’s corresponding?

I know you can’t know the answer but what do you think. Do you think KA is making the deal to facilitate an improved team next season? Or long term? 

[GASabresIUFAN]

3 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Why are we paying for stats gurus in our front office when our GM's M.O. is to take other teams' table scraps?!?!

Because our GM is incompetent.  

The biggest tragedy of this deal is Krebs, who is not good, is now our 3rd line center and will be next year.

 

[Thorner]

5 minutes ago, Weave said:

I can’t get to, Casey was traded solely to avoid a payday.  At least not yet, lol.

Cash spent at center may certainly be a factor, but there has to be a plan that involves boosting the team overall.  At least, I think there has to be.

I am holding out hope that this is move 1 of 3 or 4 moves through draft day that that retools the team.  

I’m not asking you to. I’m not asking you to be pessimistic.

There’s an arguable position wherein one says, well, this makes our team likely a bit worse next season, but likely better long term. I hate it, but it’s there. It doesn’t need to be “to avoid a payday”. This is a good faith discussion  

 

Edited March 6 by Thorny