Latest news with #CaseyMittelstadt
Yahoo
13-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bruins: 4 Potential Landing Spots For Casey Mittelstadt
Boston Bruins forward Casey Mittelstadt is only the latest player from the Original Six club to enter the rumor mill as a trade candidate. In a recent article for Jimmy Murphy reported that an NHL executive told him that they heard Mittelstadt could be traded by the Bruins since before the 2025-26 campaign ended.
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bruins: 4 Potential Landing Spots For Casey Mittelstadt
Boston Bruins forward Casey Mittelstadt is only the latest player from the Original Six club to enter the rumor mill as a trade candidate. In a recent article for Jimmy Murphy reported that an NHL executive told him that they heard Mittelstadt could be traded by the Bruins since before the 2025-26 campaign ended. Mittelstadt notably had a tough start to his Bruins tenure after being acquired by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 NHL trade deadline in the Charlie Coyle trade. In 18 games with the Bruins following the move, he had four goals, two assists, and a minus-17 rating. With this, if the Bruins were to trade Mittelstadt this off-season, they likely would be selling low on the 2017 first-round pick. Yet, given Mittelstadt's resume, teams looking to improve at the center position still could consider pursuing him. This is especially so when noting that he is still just 26 years old and recorded at least 57 points in each of his two previous seasons before the 2024-25 campaign. Due to this, let's discuss four potential landing spots for Mittelstadt if the Bruins end up trading the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native. The Vancouver Canucks could be an interesting landing spot for Mittelstadt if he ends up getting moved. After trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers during the 2024-25 season and losing Pius Suter to the St. Louis Blues in free agency this summer, it is apparent that they could use another skilled center. With this, it is fair to wonder if they could consider pursuing Mittelstadt. If the Canucks brought in Mittelstadt, he would create some competition for Filip Chytil for their second-line center spot. Yet, even if he ended up being used as the Canucks' third-line center, he would still provide them with an immediate upgrade for the role over players like Aatu Raty and Teddy Blueger. With this, the Canucks could make sense for a player like Mittelstadt, especially if he ends up having a bounce-back season in 2025-26. After taking a big step in the right direction this past season and making the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens have followed that up by having an excellent off-season. The Original Six club most notably brought in a star defenseman in Noah Dobson and also added a potential top-six winger in Zack Bolduc. Yet, it is clear that they still help at their second-line center spot, and a player like Mittelstadt could be an interesting option for them if he regains his previous form. With Mittelstadt still being just 26 years old, he could also be a nice fit on a team on the rise like the Canadiens. If not used as their second-line center, he could still be a nice pickup for their top nine, as he would have the potential to provide them with more secondary offensive production. After bringing in big-name players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei this past off-season, the Nashville Predators had a nightmare 2024-25 season. They finished the campaign as one of the worst teams in the NHL and will be looking to have a bounce-back season in 2025-26 because of it. With the Predators looking to get better and needing help down the middle, a player like Mittelstadt could make sense for them to take a shot on. The Predators need another playmaking center in particular, and Mittelstadt has shown in the past that he can be an impactful one when playing at his best. Furthermore, the Predators could also like the fact that Mittelstadt has multiple years left on his deal, as he would be more than just a rental for them if acquired. Given how this past season went for the Predators, it would probably be best for them to bring in players with term like Mittelstadt, rather than players with expiring deals heading into 2025-26. The Utah Mammoth could be another team that would make sense for a player like Mittelstadt, as they are actively looking to take that next step and become a playoff team next season. They certainly made that clear with their off-season moves this summer, as they brought in star winger JJ Peterka, defenseman Nate Schmidt, and veteran forward Brandon Tanev so far. Yet, with the Mammoth still having cap space to work, they are in a position to make at least one more addition before the 2025-26 season gets here. While the Mammoth have certainly had a solid off-season, there is no question that they could still use a boost at the center position. Because of this, they could be a very solid landing spot for Mittelstadt if he ends up getting traded by the Bruins. He would give them another intriguing player to consider for their second-line center spot, which is an area on their roster that could really use some improvement. Report: Bruins Could Trade Notable Forward At the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Boston Bruins traded Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt, Will Zellers, and a 2025 second-round pick, which was used to select defenseman Liam Pettersson. Coyle's time with Colorado was short, as he was traded by the Avalanche to the Columbus Blue Jackets this off-season.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 Bruins Who Could Be Big Surprises Next Season
After a tough 2024-25 season, the Boston Bruins will be looking to have a bounce-back season in 2025-26. For this to occur, they will not only need their top players to have a strong season but will also look for their depth players to step up. The Bruins will also be hoping that exciting prospects like Fraser Minten, Matthew Poitras, and Fabian Lysell can hit new levels for them next season. They certainly have the potential to, but the Bruins also have some other less-talked-about players who could end up being pleasant surprises for them next season. Exciting Bruins Center Is Prime Breakout Candidate The Boston Bruins have been doing a good job of improving their prospect pool. While they still have far more work to do with it, there is no question that they have brought in some solid new prospects since the trade deadline. Fraser Minten is undoubtedly one of them. Due to this, let's take a look at four under-the-radar Bruins who could be big surprises for the Original Six club next season. Please note that this list will not only include prospects, as the Bruins also have a proven NHL player who has the potential to make a more significant impact next year. Casey Mittelstadt may have had a tough start to his Bruins tenure after being acquired by the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline, but fans should not give up on him yet. The 26-year-old forward has shown during his career that he can be a difference-maker offensively, and he could get things back on track with a clean slate next season. The Bruins did not add a big name down the middle in free agency this off-season, so there is a very good chance that Mittelstadt will start the season as their second-line center. Furthermore, given his playmaking ability, Mittelstadt should receive power-play time. Because of all of this, Mittelstadt should be put in a position to succeed with the Bruins, and this could lead to his numbers going back up. With Mittelstadt still being in his mid-20s, he certainly has the potential to turn things around for the Bruins and be a nice surprise for them in 2025-26. Keep in mind, this is a player who recorded 57 points in 2023-24 and 59 points in 2022-23, so he could end up being a strong piece for the Bruins. The Bruins signed forward Matej Blumel to a one-year, $875,000 contract in free agency. While this was one of the Bruins' smaller moves on July 1, Blumel could end up being a big surprise for them next season. Blumel has shown a lot of promise down in the American Hockey League (AHL), and the possibility of him taking that next step and becoming an NHL-caliber player is there. During the 2023-24 season with the Texas Stars, he recorded 31 goals, 31 assists, and 62 points in 72 games. He then had an even better year with Texas in 2024-25, posting 39 goals and 72 points in 67 contests. With the Bruins needing more scoring on the wing, taking a chance on a young forward who has dominated the AHL like Blumel ultimately makes sense. The 25-year-old forward has thrived in the AHL but had trouble cementing himself as a full-time player with a stacked Dallas Stars. Now that he has joined the Bruins, the possibility of him getting more opportunities is there, and he could break out because of it. Michael DiPietro could have become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA) this off-season. However, the Bruins successfully re-signed him to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $812,500. Now, he should compete for the Bruins' backup spot with Joonas Korpisalo at training camp because of it. While DiPietro has not played at the NHL level since the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks, he chas a real chance of changing that with the Bruins next season. The 2017 third-round pick was nothing short of magnificent down in the AHL with the Providence Bruins in 2024-25, posting a 26-8-5 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.05 goals-against average. With numbers like these, it is clear that he has talent, and he could be a nice surprise for Boston next year. If DiPietro takes that next step and emerges as a true NHL-caliber goalie, it would be great news for the Bruins. There is no question that they could use more reliability at the backup goaltender spot, and it will be interesting to see if DiPietro can provide them with just that. Alex Steeves is another intriguing Bruins newcomer who could end up being a surprise for the Original Six club next season. Like Blumel, Steeves has had plenty of success at the AHL level but has not received many chances in the NHL just yet. However, with the Bruins sporting a weaker forward group than the Toronto Maple Leafs, perhaps Steeves could earn a spot on Boston's roster with a strong training camp. When looking at Steeves' offensive production at the AHL level, it is fair to argue that he could have some upside there. The 26-year-old forward has consistently put up strong numbers with the Toronto Marlies since starting his career in 2021-22, but this was especially the case this past season. In 59 games with the Marlies in 2024-25, he set new personal AHL career highs with 36 goals and 62 points. If Steeves makes the Bruins' roster and takes another step forward with his game, he could end up being a very nice addition to their group. Former Bruins Forward Still Among Free Agents Left Earlier this off-season, the Boston Bruins elected not to send forward Oliver Wahlstrom a qualifying offer. Because of this, the Maine native hit the market as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. Photo Credit: © Eric Canha-Imagn Images
New York Times
19-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Could Sabres' Bowen Byram get traded again? 8 teams that should be interested
When the Buffalo Sabres traded Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram, general manager Kevyn Adams didn't know exactly how Byram would fit. The Sabres already had two young, left-handed defensemen anchoring their top two pairs. There wasn't an obvious spot for Byram, another offensively-minded lefty. Advertisement 'We were willing to kind of make that bet and say, 'Let's bring in a really, really good hockey player and see how it shakes out,'' Adams said after the season. The bet was that the Sabres would either end up with another top-end defenseman to strengthen their blue line or they would have a quality trade asset to move later on. In terms of performance, the Sabres have gotten the better end of the Mittelstadt for Byram swap. Byram, now 24, played 82 games last season and was, at times, an excellent defenseman for the Sabres. He looked his best when playing alongside Rasmus Dahlin. When Dahlin and Byram were on the ice together at five-on-five, the Sabres had 54 percent of the expected goals. Together, it was a pair of two elite puck-movers who helped drive play in Buffalo from the back end. His time in Buffalo on that top pair with Dahlin was the opportunity he never had in Colorado — to show he can shake it in more meaningful minutes. The trouble is, when Byram was on the ice without Dahlin at five-on-five, the Sabres had 44 percent of the expected goals. Given the injuries and lack of depth on Buffalo's blue line, that number isn't a complete indictment on Byram, since his other partners included Connor Clifton, Jacob Bryson and Henri Jokiharju. And in his minutes away from Dahlin, he didn't share the ice as often with the Sabres' top forwards, either. Some of those struggles may have been because Byram doesn't make as many puck touches in the defensive end. When he plays with Dahlin, it's his partner who tends to retrieve pucks to help shift play from defense to offense, and then either defender can break out with control and start rushing up the ice. So the big question is whether Dahlin was the driver of Byram's success in Buffalo this year, or if he can carry his own pair (without playing alongside replacement-level defenders). Advertisement The potential is still there for Byram at 24 years old, just entering the prime of his career, according to aging curve work done by The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn. The contract situation just adds pressure to the situation. Byram is a restricted free agent. He's due for a significant raise on his $3.85 million salary. An extension in Buffalo, according to Evolving-Hockey, could be as high as eight years, at $7.99 million a year, on average. That would come in above his current market value, which doesn't project his full ceiling, either, since there isn't an obvious path to more power-play time in Buffalo. The other path is a shorter-term contract; a two-year deal, with the Sabres or elsewhere, which would come in around the $5.4 million mark. Some of his top comparables give insight into the player he can become. If he develops like Brandon Montour or Ryan Pulock, he could be worth investing in despite Buffalo already committing big money on long-term deals to Dahlin and Owen Power. But on the flip side, players such as Zach Bogosian, Jamie McBain and Andrej Meszaros show how south things can go. That trajectory, plus the Sabres' investments in their blue line, makes Byram a potential trade candidate, one that would have legitimate value around the league. Now it's decision time for the Sabres. Teams that could/should be interested in Byram: The Flames were better than expected last season, but this is still a rebuilding team. They've avoided tearing down the roster, but adding a 24-year-old defenseman with the offensive skill set Byram has would give them a valuable building block to pair with 2024 first-rounder Zayne Parekh. It would also fit in line with some of management's recent moves to add younger talent, just entering their prime. Byram would be a candidate to run Calgary's top power play. The Flames also have a lot of players who would interest the Sabres, who need a right-shot defenseman. Building a trade around Byram and Rasmus Andersson, who has one year left on his contract before unrestricted free agency, might make sense. Bryam is also from Western Canada and would likely welcome the move. Advertisement The Sharks have the No. 2 pick in the draft, so they're likely going to miss out on getting Matthew Schaefer as a potential No. 1 defenseman to build around. Sam Dickinson, San Jose's first-round pick from 2024, had a fantastic season in junior, but the Sharks could use another top-end defenseman after moving Jake Walman to Edmonton at the deadline. At 24, Byram's age fits into the core San Jose is building. The tricky part about the Sharks as a trade partner is what they have to offer that fits Buffalo's needs. The No. 2 pick is an attractive asset, but the Sabres would need to send more than Byram to get that pick. Mario Ferraro could add some defensive stability to the back end, but doesn't solve the left-handed logjam, either. Otherwise, the Sharks mostly have futures to offer, and the Sabres need to win now. If Ivan Provorov departs as a free agent, Columbus will be in the market for a left-handed defenseman. And the team should target someone more offensively inclined, like Byram. The tricky part is that there isn't a path to the top power-play unit or prime offensive minutes, with Zach Werenski leading the way. But Byram could still add a much-needed boost at even strength. Behind Werenski's 82 points, the next-best scoring defender in Columbus was Provorov at 33. The Blue Jackets have the cap space to sign Byram to a long-term deal. But most returns likely surround future assets, considering how many picks and prospects Columbus has. In the right deal, the Sabres may be able to target Cole Sillinger to add an up-and-coming forward ready to contribute. The Flyers acquired Jamie Drysdale in 2024, but a player like Byram would still be a nice addition to their top pair. Byram's path to being a top-pair player who gets power-play minutes would be clear in Philadelphia, based on how that blue line is constructed. He and Drysdale could even play together, potentially at even strength. The power play is one area that needs a major lift, after ranking last in expected goal generation last year, with an even lower goal rate of 5.14 per 60 to show for it. Philadelphia, another rebuilding team, has some pieces that could interest the Sabres. Owen Tippett doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract that carries a $6.2 million cap hit for the next seven years. He would bring some much-needed edge to Buffalo's forward group. That could be the start of a trade conversation. A left side of Carson Soucy, K'Andre Miller and Urho Vaakanainen is not going to cut it in New York if the Rangers have any hopes of getting back into the playoff picture. Byram would add much-needed puck skills to the back end behind Adam Fox, whether he slots alongside the Rangers' number one or is tasked with being the driver of the second pair with Will Borgen. He just wouldn't get to quarterback the first unit in New York, and would instead only see PP2 time. The key to the Rangers being in on Byram is a Miller trade, which seems like a real possibility this summer. While the Sabres likely aren't in the market for a lefty, a Miller for Byram trade could make sense, considering how different their strengths and roles are. Otherwise, the Sabres could try to get creative since there aren't many untouchables in New York. Advertisement Speaking of teams that need help on the left, Detroit is high on that list. The depth seriously lacks behind Simon Edvinsson. Byram would be a real step up from a defensive group that includes Ben Chiarot and Erik Gustafsson. The Red Wings' defensive woes have been well-documented, and sometimes, along with their red-hot power play, overshadows their even-strength offensive struggles. Detroit generated 2.38 expected goals per 60 in the regular season at five-on-five, which ranked 25th; the team's actual scoring rate of 2.08 per 60 was second-to-last. Byram could be a spark from the back end to help the team pick up the pace. Whether he could jump onto the top power-play unit is a question mark. It wouldn't hurt to take that off Moritz Seider's plate, considering how much the team leans on him, but that top unit had so much success last season that the team may want to build on. That's if these teams could find a fitting return — the Red Wings' NHL-caliber pieces aren't the most enticing, and the Sabres probably need more than just futures back. The Kings have a need for a younger, puck-moving defenseman on the left side. Whether Byram would have an obvious path to more power-play time would be a question with Drew Doughty and Brandt Clarke there. But for a team that only scored 6.45 power-play goals per 60 in the regular season, the Kings should be willing to mix up their deployment. But Byram would be a top-four defenseman for them, whether he pairs up with Clarke as a more offensive duo, or even with Doughty for two balanced pairs split across the top-four. Since the Kings also have a surplus of right-handed defenseman, Jordan Spence would have the potential to pair with Power on Buffalo's second pair in return. The Hurricanes are positioned to have a big offseason, with a lot of cap space and trade assets at their disposal. While Carolina's top priority may be adding a true second-line center and another top-six winger, there's room for improvement on the back end. Byram could replace Dmitry Orlov in the top six, alongside Jalen Chatfield. While the Canes have two other lefties to choose from in that role, the coaches may prefer keeping Shayne Gostisbehere in a sheltered third-pair role and also might want to ease Alexander Nikishin in. The Canes aren't locked into a No. 1 quarterback on the top power-play unit, either. So there is room for Byram to take over that role. Advertisement The Sabres could swing big and try to scoop up right-handed defenseman Scott Morrow. Or, maybe Buffalo could target center Jesperi Kotkaniemi plus draft capital that can be used in future dealings. — Data via The Stanley Cap, CapWages, Evolving-Hockey, Hockey Stat Cards and Dom Luszczyszyn.
Fox Sports
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Sabres take on the Bruins following shootout victory
Associated Press Buffalo Sabres (26-33-6, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Boston Bruins (30-30-8, in the Atlantic Division) Boston; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres visit the Boston Bruins after the Sabres defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in a shootout. Boston is 30-30-8 overall and 11-8-3 against the Atlantic Division. The Bruins rank second in NHL play serving 10.2 penalty minutes per game. Buffalo has gone 26-33-6 overall with a 5-11-2 record in Atlantic Division play. The Sabres serve 11.0 penalty minutes per game to rank first in the league. The teams match up Monday for the third time this season. The Sabres won the previous meeting 7-2. John-Jason Peterka scored three goals in the win. TOP PERFORMERS: Casey Mittelstadt has 12 goals and 25 assists for the Bruins. David Pastrnak has six goals and seven assists over the past 10 games. Rasmus Dahlin has 12 goals and 39 assists for the Sabres. Ryan McLeod has one goal and five assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 3-6-1, averaging 2.5 goals, four assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Sabres: 3-6-1, averaging 2.6 goals, 3.7 assists, 5.7 penalties and 19.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.9 goals per game. INJURIES: Bruins: None listed. Sabres: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
