In a huge deal for both teams, former Buffalo Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt has been moved to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Bowen Byram. News of the deal broke on Wednesday afternoon.
Casey Mittelstadt and Bowen Byram: Both Major Pieces
The Colorado Avalanche have been searching for a second-line centre all season long, and have finally found him. The Sabres are getting an excellent young defenceman to bulk up what is already a strength of theirs.
Bowen Byram in Brief
Colorado’s had Byram as a top-pair piece in waiting since drafting him fourth overall in 2019. Unfortunately, injury troubles have plagued his early career, even calling it into doubt at one point. This season, he has been back and healthy and his production has followed suit. In his 55 games, Byram has 8 goals and 20 points, all at even strength.
When the Avalanche acquired Devon Toews, it was theoretically to fill out their middle-six as Byram matured. Instead, he’s been the full-time partner of Cale Makar, and Byram has become the piece to be moved to improve their depth up front. Byram, once he recovered, was the do-anything defenceman that was Toews’ role.
This isn’t to say he’s not capable of much more. He is only 22 years old and has been playing NHL-level defence for the past three seasons. That he’s also in the first of a two-year deal paying $3.85 million – and an RFA after – is just icing on the cake.
However, on Buffalo, Byram is still going to be finding his spot. The Sabres have two excellent left-side defensemen of their own, Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin. Assuming no other deals happen to move them, someone will likely switch to the right side to get them ice time.
The Case for Casey Mittelstadt
Mittelstadt has a bit of an injury history himself but seems to have left that behind now. The Sabres selected him eighth overall in the 2017 draft and put him into the NHL soon after. He struggled to make an immediate impact, and the team eventually put him in the AHL in 2019-20 for seasoning.
He started rounding into the form expected of him in 2022-23, playing all 82 games in a middle-six spot. There, he scored 15 goals and 59 points, using extra time on the power play effectively. This year he’s continued that pace, registering 14 goals and 47 points in 62 games.
In Colorado, Mittelstadt should step into the slot behind Nathan MacKinnon easily. While the Avalanche certainly don’t need additional scoring overall, they will welcome it coming from somewhere other than their first line.
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