The 26-year-old American from Minnesota is a former #8 overall pick
Yesterday, Matt Larkin of The Daily Faceoff listed a few potential landed spots for Colorado Avalanche forward Casey Mittelstadt, and the Columbus Blue Jackets were one of them.
Mittelstadt had some good years in Buffalo and had a career-high of 59 points in 82 games back in 22-23. In 73 games with the Avs, he's scored 13 goals and totaled 42 points. With the Avs though, he doesn't need to be the superstar.
Mittelstadt makes $5,750,000 per season through 2027.
Larkin says about Mittelstadt, "The Blue Jackets have been an amazing story this season, grieving the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau and remaining competitive in the Eastern Conference. That’s despite a slew of long-term injuries they’ve endured; captain Boone Jenner hasn’t played yet this season, first-line center Sean Monahan is out with a wrist injury and breakout right winger Kirill Marchenko just broke his jaw. Top blueliner Zach Werenski is banged up, too. If Columbus wants to stay in the race while it waits for its wounded to return, Mittelstadt could paper over the hole at center. They have plenty of cap space to fit Mittelstadt’s full AAV, too."
He goes on to say, "If Colorado wants to move Mittelstadt while simultaneously trying to upgrade for the playoffs, does Columbus still make sense as a trade partner? Maybe if they parted with Jenner, but would the Jackets want to move their captain during a playoff push? They’d fit better if the Avs were looking purely to dump salary as a step toward a separate trade."
The mention of Jenner is sure to get CBJ fans worked up. Jenner is a fan-favorite and an all-time Blue Jacket who is coming back from a major shoulder injury. He's been on the ice and traveling with the team and is projected to be back after the Four Nations break.
Regardless of what players are coming back from injury, GM Don Waddell should always be wanting to make the team better, and Mittelstadt would definitely do that down the middle. But for Boone Jenner? Probably not.
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