Insider Thinks Sabres' Mittelstadt Could Be A Fit For Team Out West

There have been rumors swirling that Casey Mittelstadt is on the trade block in the midst of another strong season. The Buffalo Sabres had patience with him and it has paid off as the 25-year-old is now having his second consecutive strong offensive season after four seasons failing to reach expectations.

After this season, the RFA is going to have to be paid and although the Sabres have the money, they also have three young centermen. I wonder if they are thinking that the cap space could be better used elsewhere or it won't make sense down the lineup to have a team structure like they have if the team continues to lose.

Mittelstadt is currently playing center on the third line, but is capable of playing the wing. As he has a cap hit of just $2.5 million AAV and he has 12 goals and 43 points in 52 games, his trade value is very high if the Sabres decide to sell. The team has so many young forwards trying to break in or coming in the very near future, so there is more than enough young talent to fill the lineup. It's not like Mittelstadt hasn't turned into the player that the Sabres had hoped for, it is the fact that Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens, who are both far less productive this season, are both locked up on long-term deals and Mittelstadt isn't.

David Pagnotta said that the Anaheim Ducks could be a fit for Mittelstadt at the deadline. Although the Ducks aren't going for it this season, they also have a ton of cap space and are looking to start to come out of a rebuild. Mittelstadt could help with that and there is a lot of talent and draft capital that could be sent back to get a deal done with the Sabres.