Avs Busy. Byram to Buffalo for Mittelstadt.

[seventeen]

Avs get their 2C (maybe) for a potential #1D (on almost any other team, if he can stay healthy).

[jkr]

Middlestadt goes from hockey purgatory to a legit Cup contender. Must be walking on air .

[folatre]

This is by far the most interesting hockey trade. Middlestadt is, based on points, going to command an AAV that starts with a 7. But hey the Avalanche have been dying for a 2C ever since Kadri departed and Middlestadt is certainly talented enough to get the job done.

As you say seventeen, Byram is a great talent and the big issue with him is whether he can stay healthy.

Buffalo must have faith that one of Savoie, Kulich, or Ostlund is a near lock for middle six offensive production down the middle very soon because the Sabres fans I know are sour. They are just dying, understandably so because thirteen years of no playoffs is mind-boggling. Trying the see the bright side, if Byram avoids injuries in the coming years then they just acquired a great blueliner. Granted, Byram is probably going to cost almost as much coin long-term as Middelstadt would have. And given how Adams already backed up a Brinks truck at Power and Dahlin's houses (not to mention that Samuelsson kid got serious long-term money considering he is just a rangy stay at home d-man).

[Cranky]

Scratch Middlestadt off my "potential 2C" that I thought we might target.

Yes, he's not Dach and he may be just a better version of Dvorak, but he is the right age and output to fill our 2C issues.

Whatever....I'm not losing sleep over mediocrity.

[folatre]

Assuming Dach can ever stay healthy, he is the 2C. And although he will not be NHL-ready next season, Beck projects to be the third line guy.

And just because the Habs are picking up some points on this road trip does not change the fact that they are finishing bottom 7 in the league, so another high ceiling center (or forward more generally) should be added into the mix a couple of years down the road.

And whatever young trade targets Hughes has his eyes on do not necessarily need to be centers. This team needs goals, so the main thing is to find a kid who can fill the net and in that regard a winger is fine too.