The Colorado Avalanche have acquired centre Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres for defenceman Bowen Byram.
The move gives the Avalanche more skill in the second-line centre spot, while the rebuilding Sabres now have a three-headed monster of talented defenders on the back end.
Mittelstadt, 25, is on pace to set new career highs across the board with 13 goals and 47 points in 62 games, building off a 59-point campaign a year ago. He carries a $2.5 million cap hit this season and is due to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He can become an unrestricted free agent in two years.
Byram, 22, is in his fourth NHL season and remains a highly skilled defender despite battling concussions at different times in his career. Now healthy, Byram has already played in a career-high 55 games this season and he has eight goals and 20 points.
The move is the second significant trade made by the Avalanche on Wednesday after the club acquired defenceman Sean Walker from the Flyers for a package that included centre Ryan Johansen. Mittelstadt will take Johansen's spot in the lineup and should provide an offensive upgrade down the middle behind Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon.
Byram joins a Sabres blue line that already includes Norris candidate Rasmus Dahlin and rising star Owen Power, giving Buffalo plenty of depth at an important position as they continue their rebuild.
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