Sean Walker And Casey Mittlestadt Trade Grades
Sean Walker and Casey Mittlestadt are the latest names to be shipped out ahead of Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline. The Colorado Avalanche made a big swing to add both players as they continue to load up to try and win their second Stanley Cup in three years. While the price was not cheap, they did add two good players that help the team both now and potentially down the road. Let’s start with the Flyers and the Sabres before switching gears to the Avs.
Buffalo Sabres: B
I don’t hate the move for Buffalo. I’d love it even more if Bowen Byram were right-handed. After the trade, there are now a lot of lefties on that blue line. We all know Rasmus Dahlin is a stud and Owen Power is a former #1 pick. It’s just gonna be tough for the Sabres because they may now have up to four left-handed defensemen in their top Four. You must also consider that he’s out of a contract in the Summer of 2025.
In theory, they are kicking the can down the road because Mittlestadt was gonna have to get an extension after this season. If the front office really believes in this core of forwards they have then the former #8 pick will not be too much of a loss. However, it’s still precarious as they still have more rebuilding to do. Once 2025 rolls around and he extends (in Buffalo or elsewhere) we will see how they fare.
Philadelphia Flyers: C+
This might be just me, but I feel like the Flyers could have gotten even more out of this. Righty defensemen are one of the most in-demand assets this year. Chris Tanev went for three assets, one of which a second-round pick. Walker has much more offensive upside and rightly deserved a first-round pick. However, taking on Ryan Johansen in the process is questionable. Maybe he fetches more assets down the road for Philly but he is not the player he once was. I would have demanded another pick or prospect if I was Philly because this deal played into Colorado’s hands really well.
However, if nothing else this deal shows they believe in Jamie Drysdale. He’s currently hurt but once he returns there’s a lot of minutes that need filling. Philly is very much in the playoff race so they will need all the help they can get.
Colorado Avalanche Grade: A-
You can’t really complain if you’re an Avs fan. You get a legit #2 center who will probably take a team-friendly extension this Summer. In exchange, you don’t have to worry about a big extension for Byram and instead add one of the most in-demand defensemen on the market. This is a deal that helps Colorado a lot both today and tomorrow.
If both Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog make it back for the playoffs, then watch out. The West is gonna be so loaded this year but I don’t know how you don’t have them at the top of the list. They would have two of the three best players on the ice in every series as well as a stacked supporting cast. This deal is a great swing for their first-round pick.
It is not officially a three-way trade, but it is a wink-wink transaction. The Avalanche are getting some big time reinforcements after deals with the Flyers and Sabres.
