The Colorado Avalanche were a busy team on Wednesday.
Just hours after shipping center Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Sean Walker, the Avalanche dealt defender Bowen Byram to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Casey Mittlestadt.
Mittlestadt, picked eighth overall by Buffalo in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, was the Sabres’ top scorer this season with 47 points on 14 goals and 33 assists. Byram was the fourth overall selection of the 2019 NHL Draft, is three years younger, and not an impending restricted free agent this offseason like Mittlestadt.
It’s a trade that bolsters Colorado for a hoped-for Stanley Cup run and assists Buffalo’s rebuilding movement.
Avalanche were able to gain Mittlestadt by dealing Johansen
Colorado freed up the funds for the remainder of Mittlestadt’s $2.6 million 2023-24 contract by trading away Johansen and the rest of the $4 million owed to him for this season. Mittlestadt was known as Buffalo’s most consistent player this season. Conversely, Johansen had become an anchor on the Avalanche attack. Mittlestadt has more assists (33) this season than Johansen has points (23).
Mittlestadt has two more seasons of restricted free agency remaining. However, it is possible that Colorado could look to lock up the 25-year-old with 186 points over seven seasons long-term.
Trade fits needs for Avalanche, Sabres
The Avalanche and Sabres are at opposite ends of the NHL spectrum.
Colorado currently has the fourth-best record in the Western Conference. The Avalanche are still in contention for the Central Division title, just four points off the lead pace of the Dallas Stars. Since moving from Quebec in 1994, the Avalanche have won three Stanley Cups — the last of which came in 2022.
Conversely, Buffalo is a long way from the perennial playoff-contending teams of the 1990s. The Sabres have not qualified for the postseason since 2011 and have made the playoffs just five times this century. This season, Buffalo is mired in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points. The Sabres are currently 10 points off the Eastern Conference’s Wild Card leaders with a 29-29-4 record.
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Tom Carothers is a sportswriter with more than 20 years of experience covering sports at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Still longing for the return of his Minnesota North Stars, he has a high pain tolerance as a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns, and Tottenham Hotspur. You can follow him on X at @tomcarothers.