Fans stunned as Avalanche pull off nightmare trade that might go down as worst in team history
Photo credit: Bill Wippert / NHLI
Colorado Avalanche fans are reeling after a shocking trade involving Bowen Byram and Casey Mittelstadt could be remembered as the worst in franchise history, according to a recent report.
On March 8, 2024, the Avalanche traded Byram to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Mittelstadt.
New development points out the Avalanche's worst trade in team history.
Lyle Richardson from the Bleacher Report writes that at the time, the trade seemed beneficial for both teams. We gave the Avalanche an A for acquiring Mittelstadt, given his production that season, while the Sabres received a B+ due to Byram's injury history.
A year later, Byram enjoyed a career-best 38-point season with the struggling Sabres, earning the 24-year-old defenseman a two-year deal with a $6.3 million average annual value.
Meanwhile, Mittelstadt was traded to the Boston Bruins at the 2025 trade deadline.
"Parting with Byram for Mittelstadt was meant to address the Avalanche's need for a reliable second-line center. They even inked the 25-year-old center last June to a three-year contract with a $5.75 million AAV. However, he struggled to fill that role, leading to his trade to the Boston Bruins for center Charlie Coyle." -Richardson
The Avalanche acquired Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders to fill their second-line center role. He scored 13 points in 19 regular-season games and added four assists in seven playoff games, leading to a three-year, $7.5 million AAV re-signing.
"Nelson turns 34 on Oct. 15, and there's no certainty he'll be able to fill that second-line center role throughout the duration of his contract. Coyle, meanwhile, was traded with winger Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 30 in a cost-cutting move." -Richardson
Had Mittelstadt developed as expected, the Avalanche would have enjoyed a young, affordable second-line center in his prime. Instead, they're left with an older, pricier option who many struggle to fill that role over the length of his contract.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 10 | 43 ANSWERS Fans stunned as Avalanche pull off nightmare trade that might go down as worst in team history Would you still like to have Bowen Byram on the Avalanche? | ||
| yes | 33 | 76.7 % |
| no | 10 | 23.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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