I think Lybushkin is a far better depth option than either Stillman or Bryson, but the Sabres need options on the left side.

Mittlestadt will be playing on the 2nd line..... here is why. The fun fact (and ine NO ONE would guess) is Casey was in the NHL top 5 in primary assist per 60 minutes. With Oloffson looking to be a lock.on 2nd line minutes in lieu of the Quinn injury, having Mittlestadt on the same line would be very beneficial.

Lyubushkin would not clear waivers. Sabres never try to send him down Bryson would be going 1st. They would trade Lyub before sending him down

Sabres would send Erik Johnson (he would clear with retirement threats), Bryson and Stillman before Lyubushkin.

Interesting lines and d pairs

well thats not even remotely true lol. They didnt pay EJ 3+mil to put him on waivers. Lyubushkin is terrible. Bryson is the scapegoat but Bush is right behind him. Those two will go before stillman and EJ

You could put him on waivers, but never send him down. Paper transaction.

thats just as bad theyre not paying johnson 3 mil to not play

I see those moves like trying to survive the season with depth on defensive side. Noone should be expecting anyone other than Dahlin and Power to play 82 games.
It's Power, Dahlin and 4 out of 6 rotating, with Samuelsson leading the charge, but his style of play prevents him from being out there for 82.

Now you need roster space to rotate all this defense, Bryson easily clears waivers, so he is 9th. One of Stillman - Johnson has to go through waivers (because Jokiharju and Lyubushkin would be claimed), and if there is any risk of losing Stillman (for whatever reason), Johnson's 3,5 mil cap hit seems like protection from being claimed.

Theyll carry 8 d-men before they waive erik johnson. You honestly think he signs if the sabres tell him hes a waiver candidate? If they were just going to waive him as a rotation guy and be the 8th D who never plays, why pay a guy 3 mil to do that job? someone would do that for league min.

Sabres have luxury of being able to pay such guy 3 mil, rather than minimum.