The Buffalo Sabres have traded forward Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram. Mittelstadt, who is in the final year of his three-year deal, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of this year and was rumored to be on the move. This year, Mittelstadt has 14 goals and 33 assists for 47 points in 62 games. He is coming off a career year in which he put up 15 goals and 44 assists for 59 points in 82 games. Prior to the move, it was rumored the Colorado was looking to add, and adding a guy like Mittelstadt, who can play down the middle, is huge.
Buffalo continued to add to their young defensive core with the addition of Bowen Bryram. The 22-year-old blueliner has spent the first three years of his career in Colorado, putting up 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points in 146 games. Byram has one year left on his two-year deal worth $3.85 million per year.
