TRADE: Buffalo Sabres trade forward to Colorado Avalanche for 2019 4th overall Draft Pick
The deadline for NHL trades is Friday at 3 p.m. The Buffalo Sabres are active before the deadline, as they have traded forward Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for 22-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram. The Buffalo Sabres announced this deal on Wednesday afternoon.
Welcome to Buffalo, defenseman Bowen Byram!
•World Juniors gold medalist
•4th-overall pick
•Stanley Cup championAnd still only 22 years old. Can’t wait to see you in blue and gold. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/OWQhamJFU2
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 6, 2024
Mittelstadt, initially chosen by the Sabres as the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, has played for the team for the past seven seasons. Hailing from Minnesota, he has recorded 14 goals and 33 assists in 62 games this season and has accumulated 62 goals, 124 assists, and a total of 186 points in his 339 games with the Sabres.
In addition to his professional success, Mittelstadt was honored as the Most Valuable Player in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Buffalo Sabres have acquired a young defenseman from the Colorado team in exchange for Mittelstadt. Byram, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, has been in the NHL for his fourth season and is currently averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game. Originally from British Columbia, Byram has posted 8 goals and 12 assists in 55 games this season, with a career record of 23 goals and 40 assists in 146 games.
Furthermore, Byram secured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2020 World Juniors.
The upcoming NHL trade deadline is set for this Friday at 3 p.m.
