Connect with us

Evan's Daily

Evan’s NHL Daily: Is Mittelstadt Available In Trade? Johansen’s Struggles

Published

3 months ago

on

mittelstadt NHL Trade Deadline avalanche

Is Casey Mittelstadt really on the NHL trade market? A former Buffalo Sabres player went on a podcast and didn’t sugarcoat anything, stating Buffalo is looking to deal him because they don’t want to pay him. If true, Chris MacFarland should be on the horn with them immediately. Speaking of podcasts, I was on one yesterday, and will be pretty regularly down the stretch. You can find the link a little lower.

Ryan Johansen has struggled this season, but one statistic, when compared to some of the other players on the Avalanche, makes it clear how bad it has gone.

All that and more in this Saturday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

The trade market is set. If you want a top nine center, it’ll cost a first round pick. Is there even anyone good enough left for the Avalanche?

What has happened to the dynamic Bowen Byram?

Podcast Appearance

From now until the end of the year, I’ll be making pretty regular appearences on the Guerilla Sports podcast with JJ Jerez and Jesse Montano. When Jesse is out and traveling, I’ll be stepping in. Friday was the first one, where we talked about various subjects, including what the Avalanche need to do before the NHL Trade Deadline.

Is Casey Mittelstadt Available?

I went over this a little bit in the trade market piece, but according to Andrew Peters, a former Sabres forward, Buffalo is looking to move Casey Mittelstadt because they don’t want to pay him. He’s due for a new contract this summer, and having already paid Cozens and Thompson, maybe they don’t want to give another big deal to a center.

He is 100% what the Avalanche need, but is that a deal that can be made prior to the NHL Trade Deadline? Is it more of a summer move? I talked to our Buffalo Hockey Now writer Jason Moser briefly about it, and he said Byram would be of interest to the Sabres, even though they have Dahlin and Power. They don’t have much else in the way of puck movers on the blueline, and Dahlin can play the right side. I can’t imagine the Sabres, who want to improve quickly, are interested in just picks and prospects.

Is there a deal to be made? We shall see, but it’s interesting how Mittelstadt’s name has gotten out there while he’s in the middle of his best season in the NHL.

Johansen Struggles

It’s been a tough season for Ryan Johansen, but it looks even worse when you compare his numbers to some of the bottom six forwards on the Avalanche. Take a look.

Yes, that’s correct. Johansen is producing at a lower rate than the likes of Freddie Olofsson and Joel Kiviranta at 5-on-5. Artturi Lehkonen’s name being on there is a little alarming, but he’s also got a relatively small sample size compared to the other NHL regulars.

This is a pretty significant drop for Johansen. His points-per-60 last year was 1.42, so 0.97 is down there, far and away the worst of his career since becoming an NHL regular. It just hasn’t been a fit in Colorado.

National Hockey Now

Is it all over for Marc-Andre Fleury? The show that was put on against his old team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, would sure seem to indicate things are nearing the end for the second winningest goaltender in NHL history.

Now all that’s left to wonder is whether or not he looks to get traded before the NHL Trade Deadline.

Mikhail Granlund should be back at practice for the Sharks soon. Is he an under-the-radar name to watch at the deadline?

Things keep changing in net for the Detroit Red Wings.

Related Topics:

Colorado's premier coverage of the Avalanche from professional hockey people. Evan Rawal, Editor-in-Chief. Part of the National Hockey Now family.

This site is in no way associated with the Colorado Avalanche or the NHL. Copyright © 2023 National Hockey Now.