Summer 2025: NHL Offseason

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, Taro T said:

Bringing him in for draft picks would make the team better than it is now.

Would rather see a different move than that to improve the team now.  But in a vacuum, it is better than nothing.  Pretty sure that's what you're trying to get at.

That is exactly all I am saying. 

Any decent forward for draft picks is a plus. 

3 hours ago, SwampD said:

Just hoping for what was here to be better is dumb. Casey was here. Now your hoping that he would be better.

Not better than he was, but the roster better than it currently is. Temporary hole fill while Helenius develops. You got a better player who is available for draft picks I'm all for it. 

[SwampD]

15 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

That is exactly all I am saying. 

Any decent forward for draft picks is a plus. 

Not better than he was, but the roster better than it currently is. Temporary hole fill while Helenius develops. You got a better player who is available for draft picks I'm all for it. 

I knew what you meant, and I agree with it. Just having some fun.

[JohnC]

39 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

That is exactly all I am saying. 

Any decent forward for draft picks is a plus. 

Not better than he was, but the roster better than it currently is. Temporary hole fill while Helenius develops. You got a better player who is available for draft picks I'm all for it. 

Would you give up a first round pick for him? I would be open to it. 

[LGR4GM]

There is a good reason Mittelstadt isn't here and no, I wouldn't trade for him, even draft picks. 

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

Would you give up a first round pick for him? I would be open to it. 

A first round pick for Mitts?  Uh No! Fir a 3rd or middling prospect I’d think about it.

He would give them a play making centre. He wouldn’t be my first choice at all but he would be better than doing nothing. The problem though is Mitts isn’t a burner and they seem to be building around speed.  But if you could give up a pick and have both Mitts and Byram in your lineup that initial deal looks good 😁

Edited Wednesday at 08:53 PM by Flashsabre

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

There is a good reason Mittelstadt isn't here and no, I wouldn't trade for him, even draft picks. 

If it was just draft picks, I would be open to do so. I agree with those who say  a first round pick would be too costly, but for a lower pick I would be receptive to such a deal. 
 

The main consideration is whether adding him improves this roster? I would say yes. 

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, SwampD said:

I knew what you meant, and I agree with it. Just having some fun.

 

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

Would you give up a first round pick for him? I would be open to it. 

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo. Unprotected first definitely nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.  

I'm only talking about him as a possible temporary fit if Boston is looking to ditch him. Maybe a 2nd but really a couple 3rds or less to take on the contract. The rumor of his availability seems greatly exaggerated anyway. Dog days of summer and all that. I'd give them Rosen though if they wanted that. 

[kas23]

I’d give them a 3rd. 

[That Aud Smell]

On 8/13/2025 at 2:51 PM, JohnC said:

Would you give up a first round pick for him? I would be open to it. 

[JohnC]

35 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I agree that a first round pick would be too much for Mitts. However, if it was a second round pick, I would do it. I just think that our GM could have been more aggressive in adding a second line forward to the mix to create more flexibility to the lines. 

[That Aud Smell]

38 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I agree that a first round pick would be too much for Mitts. However, if it was a second round pick, I would do it. I just think that our GM could have been more aggressive in adding a second line forward to the mix to create more flexibility to the lines. 

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, JohnC said:

I agree that a first round pick would be too much for Mitts. However, if it was a second round pick, I would do it. I just think that our GM could have been more aggressive in adding a second line forward to the mix to create more flexibility to the lines. 

Yes, he should have, but he didn't, so maybe take what's available?

I mean a 2nd is nothing. Anyone want to argue Malentstyn is better than Mitts?

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

When Tage was hurt Mitts moved up to centering the first line. The line continued to play at a high level. Is he a genuine first line center talent? Clearly not. But he has played as a second line center and at wing for us and played credibly. Even if he played at the 3C spot I would have no reluctance to bring him in if it was for a 2nd round pick. However, as others have said, a first round pick would be too pricey. 

[Weave]

21 minutes ago, JohnC said:

When Tage was hurt Mitts moved up to centering the first line. The line continued to play at a high level. Is he a genuine first line center talent? Clearly not. But he has played as a second line center and at wing for us and played credibly. Even if he played at the 3C spot I would have no reluctance to bring him in if it was for a 2nd round pick. However, as others have said, a first round pick would be too pricey. 

Casey Mittlestadt looked good because it was relative to what we had available at the time. “Credibly” has alot to do with expectations.  He was better than our alternatives then, but if your expectations are playoffs, he is not a credible roster addition.

A few off-seasons ago I said Mitts will be a useful depth forward in the NHL.  Something just north of replacement value. For a brief moment I thought he might prove me wrong.  Nope.

The only way Mitts is someone worth putting back on the roster is if Norris ends up on LTIR.  Even then, he’s probably not a center on the Sabres anymore. I just don’t see him as a worthwhile add to the roster unless this team is in a roster bind.

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, Weave said:

Casey Mittlestadt looked good because it was relative to what we had available at the time. “Credibly” has alot to do with expectations.  He was better than our alternatives then, but if your expectations are playoffs, he is not a credible roster addition.

A few off-seasons ago I said Mitts will be a useful depth forward in the NHL.  Something just north of replacement value. For a brief moment I thought he might prove me wrong.  Nope.

The only way Mitts is someone worth putting back on the roster is if Norris ends up on LTIR.  Even then, he’s probably not a center on the Sabres anymore. I just don’t see him as a worthwhile add to the roster unless this team is in a roster bind.

I’m not attempting to overrate his talent. But for me there is a simple metric: are the Sabres better with him, even in the short term, than without him? If he can be added for a draft pick that isn’t a first round pick, then I’m open to adding him.

In this discussion I’m not looking at this topic from a big picture perspective. The issue is reduced to whether one thinks the team will be immediately better or not. I believe so. 

[Taro T]

26 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I’m not attempting to overrate his talent. But for me there is a simple metric: are the Sabres better with him, even in the short term, than without him? If he can be added for a draft pick that isn’t a first round pick, then I’m open to adding him.

In this discussion I’m not looking at this topic from a big picture perspective. The issue is reduced to whether one thinks the team will be immediately better or not. I believe so. 

Personally, wouldn't send out a 2nd for him either.  If the B's would take a 4, would definitely make the trade in lieu of anything else happening.  Would need to be closer to the season to be willing to go to giving up a 3 for him.

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

When Tage was hurt Mitts moved up to centering the first line. The line continued to play at a high level. <> he has played as a second line center and at wing for us and played credibly. 

Aye yi yi, man.

This is something akin to Stockholm Syndrome.

Mittelstadt was a limited and flawed player on non-playoff (Sabre) teams. When he got moved to a perennial playoff team, he crashed out and eventually got traded. Since that trade, he appears to have been exposed for what he is: A tweener/marginal NHL player.

46 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I’m not attempting to overrate his talent.

But you do it so effortlessly!

[JohnC]

8 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Personally, wouldn't send out a 2nd for him either.  If the B's would take a 4, would definitely make the trade in lieu of anything else happening.  Would need to be closer to the season to be willing to go to giving up a 3 for him.

Adding a player like Mitts also has residual benefits due to his versatility as a center and wing. And as I stated in the prior post he has the ability to move up the lines when needed due to injuries or just to shake up the lines. Another benefit is that he would be useful on the second PP unit as a setup player.

I don’t want to get fixated on Mitts as the player to provide more flexibility to the roster. If another player could provide the same utility to our current roster I would be receptive to it. And if the cost would be a second round pick, I would find that to be a good deal. 

[Weave]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

I’m not attempting to overrate his talent. But for me there is a simple metric: are the Sabres better with him, even in the short term, than without him? If he can be added for a draft pick that isn’t a first round pick, then I’m open to adding him.

In this discussion I’m not looking at this topic from a big picture perspective. The issue is reduced to whether one thinks the team will be immediately better or not. I believe so. 

Who are you displacing with him that improves the roster?

[Taro T]

9 minutes ago, Weave said:

Who are you displacing with him that improves the roster?

Not to speak for John and not asked, but will answer anyhow.  Quinn or Danforth initially.  The guy that's inevitably injured 2 - 5 games in, after that (unless of course, he's the inevitiably injured guy, but he's been pretty resilient since that injury sustained vs Moe-ray-all in the opener a few years back).

And would rather have Rust for the experience or Roslovic for the someone different factor to take the place of Quinn or Danforth iniitally.  But really want them to have 1 or 2 more bodies that can move into the top 6 in a pinch and not look completely out of place and also to create additional competition for the young guys.  Again, he isn't the 1st choice, but he'd be better than no additional F adds.

[JohnC]

Just now, Weave said:

Who are you displacing with him that improves the roster?

How about players competing for positions and roles? If he is outplayed then his role is diminished. If he outplays players then he earns his spot. Who he displaces or doesn’t displace should be predicated on his play. I’m not bothered by internal competition because I see it as a good thing.

[Weave]

Just now, Taro T said:

Not to speak for John and not asked, but will answer anyhow.  Quinn or Danforth initially.  The guy that's inevitably injured 2 - 5 games in, after that (unless of course, he's the inevitiably injured guy, but he's been pretty resilient since that injury sustained vs Moe-ray-all in the opener a few years back).

And would rather have Rust for the experience or Roslovic for the someone different factor to take the place of Quinn or Danforth iniitally.  But really want them to have 1 or 2 more bodies that can move into the top 6 in a pinch and not look completely out of place and also to create additional competition for the young guys.  Again, he isn't the 1st choice, but he'd be better than no additional F adds.

Im not convinced Mitts is going to be much of an upgrade over Quinn anymore.

Danforth, he’s your grit and forecheck upgrade, right?  So much for that.

Just now, JohnC said:

How about players competing for positions and roles? If he is outplayed then his role is diminished. If he outplays players then he earns his spot. Who he displaces or doesn’t displace should be predicated on his play. I’m not bothered by internal competition because I see it as a good thing.

He’s a roster spot, and one with a 3rd contract cap hit.  He needs to displace someone.

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, Weave said:

Im not convinced Mitts is going to be much of an upgrade over Quinn anymore.

Danforth, he’s your grit and forecheck upgrade, right?  So much for that.

He’s a roster spot, and one with a 3rd contract cap hit.  He needs to displace someone.

I don’t care if specifically Mitts is added to this roster. As I have stated on a number of posts is that I wished that the GM would have added another second-line forward to the mix. @Taro T mentioned a couple of players that would be appealing. So far, that hasn’t happened. I find that disappointing. 

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, Weave said:

Im not convinced Mitts is going to be much of an upgrade over Quinn anymore.

Danforth, he’s your grit and forecheck upgrade, right?  So much for that.

He’s a roster spot, and one with a 3rd contract cap hit.  He needs to displace someone.

Then fork it, let him take Malenstyn's spot as the 13th F.  Or put him in Danforth's spot in the top 12 (not necessarily on the 4th line, but in the top 12 bumping somebody else to there) and bring Danforth back in as soon as somebody inevitably breaks.  How often are ALL 12 guys Ruff wants to have in the lineup going to actually be IN the lineup.  Really want them to have 12 NHLers available when even 2 or 3 guys break.  They haven't had that in, oh, about 14 years at least.

Again, am only willing to give up a 4th for him, so if he doesn't force his way into the top 12, no great loss.  AND, he's not the 1st choice.

But would rather have him in the lineup than Rosen and he's close to the next man up right now.