It’s an exciting time of the year for any hockey fan. The NHL trade deadline keeps us fans on the edge of our seats waiting for news regarding our favorite teams. Well, the Avalanche made a splash ahead of Friday’s trade deadline!
The Avalanche acquired young center Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres for promising defenseman Bowen Byram. Mittelstadt led all Sabres in points this season with 14 goals and 33 assists. The 26-year-old center is still a restricted free agent after this season meaning the Avalanche have contract control. This is why the trade is so huge for the Avalanche. Year after year the club seems to be looking for a 2nd line center to play behind and alleviate pressure from Nathan Mackinnon. Problem solved! Mittelstadt should be that center for the Avalanche for the next several seasons.
Authority Athletics is a member of the Fanatics Affiliate Program and will receive compensation for any purchases made through links at no extra cost to you
Mittelstadt will be an excellent fit on the Avalanche. He has speed, excellent hands, and elite playmaking ability. He is a pass first player but putting a finisher such as Val Nichushkin or Mikko Rantanen on his line should lead to excellent results. I look for Mittelstadt to take a further step in his development. With his skill set and the talent now surrounding him, I think he is truly capable of 70-80 points each season.
The trade is bittersweet for Avalanche fans. Losing Byram is tough! Byram has so much potential as a defenseman, but in all honesty his career just hasn’t panned out the way many expected. This season has been filled with ups and downs for Byram. When Girard entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, Byram had the opportunity to steal a permanent spot in the Avalanche top 4. Unfortunately, he didn’t, and was instead a mainstay on the Avalanche bottom pairing. Avalanche fans will always remember Byram’s performance in the 2022 playoffs. He was truly special in those playoffs and his performance was a glimpse of the player he can become. If he turns into that player full time, the league should watch out.
The Avalanche got better yesterday! They traded away a promising yet struggling defenseman for a permanent solution to their second line. This Avalanche fan is excited!
Look forward to our upcoming article where we look at this trade from the Sabres perspective.
Who do you think won the trade? Comment below!
Share our Article
Be the first to comment