OTP - Will Zemgus Girgensons Be Back?

At the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, the Buffalo Sabres traded Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Bowen Byram. While trading Mittelstadt certainly stung, it was an understandable move, as the Sabres needed to add a young and promising defenseman like Byram to their roster.

Mittelstadt, 25, posted four goals and 10 points in 18 games following the trade to Colorado. While this production was not bad, he struggled with remaining consistent down the stretch. That has since changed, especially now that the playoffs are here.

Mittelstadt played a major role in the Avalanche's first-round win against the Winnipeg Jets. The Minnesota native dominated with his playmaking, posting one goal, six points, and a plus-5 rating in five games against the Jets. That is exactly what the Avs hoped to get from him following the trade.

Mittelstadt is clearly now more used to the Avalanche's system, and his offense is going up because of it. The star forward is proving to be a grand addition as the Avalanche's 2C, and their offense has improved because of it. Let's see if the 2017 eighth-overall pick can keep this kind of play going from here.

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