Buffalo had no need to add Murphy aka another RHD

They do actually. Montour and Risto aren’t good defensively. Joki is a work in progress but more of an offensive guy and Miller is ok defensively. Murphy would be their best defensive RHD by far

Hagg is terrible. Sabres decline.

No need for more RHD. I'm sick of the abundance. Lopsided against LHD.

We're not trading Ristolainen for that. Maybe bump it to a 2nd and add Axel Andersson.

What need does this fill for Chicago? A 2nd round pick certainly doesn't move the needle and Mittlestadt isn't a better center option then Toews, Dach or Strome and therefore he would be wrestling for a 3rd winger spot behind Kubalik, Kane, Nylander, Debrincat. So net net, a 3rd line winger and a 2nd round pick I really don't think is what the Hawks would consider.

It shouldn't take much progress for Middlestadt to pass Alex Nylander

It would take very little progression in Middlestadts game to pass Alex Nylander for a top 6 role. He had as much production 2 years ago as a 19 year old playing with Vladimir Sobotka and Connor Sheary

Nylander has been playing on the bottom 6 almost exclusively for the Hawks and played 12 less games then Mittelstadt....and it's Mittelstadt not Middlestadt . I think Mittelstadt doesn't have near the natural talent as Nylander but think both are never going to live up to their draft positions. 3rd line wingers so Hawks don't need Mittelstadt.

Nylander played 50% of his ice time in the bottom 6 and 50% in the top 6 with either Kane or Toews on his line. His most frequent linemates were toews and Saad for 25% of his shifts. 2nd most were Kane and Strome for 16% of his shifts. Noone needs Middlestadt just like noone needs Alex Nylander. I would say at a full year younger and having shown a greater willingness to work on the flaws in his game the ceiling is higher for Middlestadt. In the end they both very likely will end up being complete busts and bottom 6 journeyman for a few years in the league.