They brought in capital for next offseason. This season is going to be more about development of the young core and they get guys that can help that process. Plus a young power forward and a 1st keeps this team headed in the right direction. I see maybe a signing for LW though. Like a Duclair

God that's a rough second line. Please come back ROR

That’s exactly where I’m at. In a vacuum this trade blows. A bunch of trash that might not be trash, and we don’t actually save any cap and we got older. There has to be another deal to actually make me like it. Preferably finding a way to move Sobotka for literally anything.

I just hate this trade until I see these guys playing next season, hopefully Mittelstadt will really be good this year

Yeah but do you know whats great when developing young players? Someone who can play tough minutes and thrive, not two overpriced third liners and a pick that wont have any effect until Dahlin and Casey are off their ELCs

If I were the Sabres in need of a first line left wing, I would be contacting the Carolina Hurricanes about Jeff Skinner.

He did somehow manage to record 17 goals in 57 games. Over 82 games, that would put him on pace for a career-best 24 goals. The Blues, who only had three 20-goal scorers last season, wouldn’t seem to be in a position to abandon another potential contributor.
And yet Berglund recorded only nine assists. Of those nine, seven were primary assists. Of those seven, only three were assists on goals scored by forwards.
Of those three, only one - a single goal by Alexander Steen against Columbus on March 24th - was a pass. The other two were deflections.
Patrik Berglund, ostensibly a center, passed the puck to a forward in a manner that resulted in a goal exactly one time over the full course of an NHL season.
Contenders have to demand more production of their players. And the Blues have to demand that Berglund accepts a ticket out of town.

Those 2 guys play the way the game is supposed to be played and can teach these guys how to be responsible. Thompson should be better his sophomore year and also was buried in STL. I see them running a situation where Berglund will run a line that sees tougher DZ starts and Mitts running a line with protected time and more OZ starts. That in itself should help and Sobotka (If with mitts) can do the tough work