Flames decline

Calgary declines. Seattle and Arizona probably decline too.

I thought Mittlestad was performing so well that he couldn't be traded? Or that's what I was told by buffalo fans this summer.

Arizona doesn't get a single thing that helps them and gives up actually useful NHL players.....

Mittelstadt is nearly a point per game forward. Ive never liked him and have been open about that and they need to shake up their forwards. If they're trading for a center, Thompson ain't going anywhere, Cozens also just signed a long deal, leaves Mittelstadt as the odd man out. Arizona isn't giving up useful NHL players so....

So why trade him for an older center who also wouldn't knock Thompson or Cozens out of their top 6 roles?

Hayton and O'Brian are both more useful then anything you're sending to them in that trade

Sabres role 4 lines, the lines I have would be the most accurate. O'Brien is the most useful player Arizona is sending, only because he drops the gloves. Hayton is one of the biggest busts in the modern draft era. I merely added him as a reclaimation project that could be dumped without regrets. Jost is more valuable than O'Brien as a bottom 6 center.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I've never been a fan either. Mittelstadt is going to be due a major raise, if you look at our center core, Thompson and cozens are both signed long term, and neither excel at defense. Mittelstadt also does not excel at defense, he's just more of the same, and it's 100% not working. Getting an excellent two way center in lindholm would make a ton of sense. Obrien would also provide a physical presence that is lacking, we are constantly being outhit, and we've had dahlin, Thompson, and cozens all get into fights, the last one for cozens kept him out of the lineup with a broken nose, and when he returned with a face shield he was a shadow. I understand that just hitting doesn't translate to wins, but we are so easy to play against- its not like you have to keep your head on a swivel when you play the Sabres.

AZ laughs as they hang up and block the number

Coyotes trade is absolutely laughable. Come on.

Hayton is a bust