Buffalo traded three veterans at the trade deadline
The Buffalo Sabres were sellers at the March 8th trade deadline, moving out three veterans to a trio of clubs that were looking to add depth or that one key piece to improve their chances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With just under two weeks to go in the regular season, here is how they are doing with their new clubs.
Casey Mittelstadt – In the most consequential deal made two days before the deadline, the Sabres moved their leading scorer to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Bowen Byram, who were looking for a center to play behind likely Hart Trophy finalist Nathan Mackinnon.
In 11 games with the Avs, Mittelstadt has seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) playing in the second line with Arturi Lehkonen and Brandon Duhaime.
Kyle Okposo – The Sabres former team captain was dealt to the Florida Panthers for minor league defenseman Calle Sjalin and a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick. Since the trade, Okposo has no points and has played mostly on the fourth line and in four of the Panthers' 12 games.
“You do feel like a rookie – it’s wild,” Okposo said to the Buffalo News last week. “You know everybody in the building, you know everybody’s name, you know what makes people tick, the dynamics of the team and coaching staff, and you can be a little bit comfortable. That first week here, I didn’t have any of that. I was kind of like, ‘All right, let’s go back to my default,’ which is listen, observe, and work as hard as I can. It’s been a great transition so far.”
Erik Johnson – The veteran blueliner was moved to Philadelphia for a 2024 fourth-round pick and was expected to play a bottom-pairing role as he did with the Sabres, but he has been pressed into a larger role with Nick Seeler, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Jamie Drysdale out with injuries and his declining speed against top opposition lines has exposed the 35-year-old.
Johnson in 12 games is averaging 16:22 per game and is -11.
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