Sabres trade Mittelstadt to Avalanche for Byram

The Buffalo Sabres traded forward Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Bowen Byram, the teams announced.

Mittelstadt is under contract for $2.5 million this campaign before becoming a restricted free agent in the offseason. At the time of his departure, he led the Sabres in scoring with 47 points in 62 games in 2023-24.

Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams denied Mittelstadt's availability in February, saying trade rumors surrounding the young center are "flat-out not true."

The Sabres drafted Mittelstadt eighth overall in 2017, and he managed 186 points in 339 games with Buffalo.

The 25-year-old will give Colorado's top six a new look after the Avalanche sent veteran center Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier Wednesday for defenseman Sean Walker.

Byram is set to earn $3.85 million through the 2024-25 season before becoming an arbitration-eligible RFA.

The Avalanche drafted Byram with the fourth overall pick in 2019, and he's long been one of the most highly regarded young defensemen in the league. However, his career hasn't taken off as expected, largely due to numerous injury absences. Byram managed 20 points in 55 games this season with Colorado and played a key role in helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Buffalo now has three high-upside building blocks on its back end between Byram, Owen Power, and Rasmus Dahlin.

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