I don't want Dumba anywhere near the Sabres locker room. Regardless, they would definitely pass.

Out of curiosity, why's that? He's a fantastic leader, everyone loves him (including myself). In fact, I think this is the only ACGM that I've traded him as I'm actually a huge fanboy of Dumba and want the Wild to extend him (to a team-friendly contract of course).

I don't think he is a bad player, nor even a locker room cancer. Just seems like a guy who wouldn't do good in Buffalo is all.

Sabres aren't trading Samuelsson. If the Wild want Mittelstadt on the other hand, that might only cost Dumba with Sabres adding a 2nd rounder and a mid level prospect.

That works. I'm only interested in Mitts. I just added Samuelsson to balance out the D core.


Who would you consider a mid level prospect? Kisakov? Sardarian? Ruostalainan? Levi? Portillo? Someone else?

Sabres probably go for It too. Seems like a good swap for both teams. Mitts is a minny boy after all

Mittelstadt and a 3rd for a first I'd do.
Kisakov, Levi or Portillo are definitely NOT mid-level prospects either. Especially not Levi.

Absolutely not Levi
He’s viewed as our “goalie of the future” by Sabres mgmt

Idk that we’d be interested in Dumba unless an extension was agreed upon- and maybe not even then
Knowing that we’ll have to pay Dahlin & Power big bucks could keep us from wanting to pay a 3rd defenseman that type of $$

Minnesota has better player's in duhaime, thsn Kerfoot, holl, and Ilya who Minnesota didn't sign.

Trading for rentals makes no sense and I'd rather have Samuelsson, who is dahlins top pairing partner for his RFA years than pay dumba big money as he leaves his prime

Why is Buffalo trading for a pending UFA defensemen who is close to 30 and will want big money?

@KooKoo4Kaapo
IMO Mittelstadt suffered playing for Krueger and did really well once Granato became HC.
But to obtain a RHD who avg 12goals/82 games, hits, blocks shots, PK's and plays 23 min/gm for a center prospect would be a difficult deal to pass.
Dahlin-Lyubushkin
Power-Jokiharju
Samuelsson-Dumba
Would be a HUGE upgrade over last years starting defense pairings:
Dahlin-Jokiharju
Bryson-Miller
Hagg-Pysyk

Levi is not "a mid level prospect" IMO!
There are many other possible mid level prospects.
The two best "mid level" would be Portillo and Johnson both are projected to be in the NHL soon.

If it's only costing Casey Mittelstadt and some futures I don't see it being that bad. RHD is arguably the biggest weakness on the team other than G or top 6 scoring.

Mid level prospects: Weissbach, Pekar, Novikov, Nadeau, Laaksonen, etc.

And how to we solve those if we are paying dumba 7 plus million a year?

If we plays well enough to earn that contract with Buffalo, I'd probably argue they trade Lyubushkin and possibly Skinner to make everything else fit. Skinner might be a 1-2 year wait trade wise though.

Or we just stick with dahlin/jokiharju/Lyubushkin at RHD this year and keep building.

The whole team except 2 players need new contracts in the next 3 years and several of them will likely be over 5 million. Don't tie up cap now and spend assets on players who will be in their 30s soon.

I'd be all for staying pat until the deadline but how else do you anticipate improving the RHD hole? The team is ready to make steps forward and if they go on a run that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Buffalo has missed the playoffs 11 straight years, but some Buffalo fans are smarter ("Or we just stick with dahlin/jokiharju/Lyubushkin at RHD this year and keep building.") than the four Cup finalists who all had 3 LHD and 3 RHD.
The crazy idea that Buffalo is giving away Mittelstadt and not getting quality in return is just insane.
To date Casey has one year with 12 goals, Matt averages 12 goals/82 games.
Trade for him and sign him ASAP, if he does not want to sign with Buffalo, then trade him at the TDL for multiple picks (unless Adams is making the trade, then the Sabres may only get a third).
I could only dream of having three scoring defensemen on the same team (Dahlin, Power, Dumba).
Finally, Dumba will not turn 30 until the start of the 2024 season, Mark Giordano will be 39 next October and he only exceeded the 35 pts he scored last year six times in his 15 year career.
I am not worried about signing Dumba to an 8 year contract at $7,000,000 AVV, Defense Men age very well.

I don't believe they think they need to upgrade the position in the short term.

But I'd rather sign one than trade for one unless it's for someone with RFA years left.

I suppose I agree. Might be something to look at in the Summer next year when they are better suited to make a purchase like this.

I agree but I will admit BUF can try to wait it out and make a big push for a younger and more talented piece like Brett Pesce or Brandon Carlo if BOS and CAR fall off a cliff this season.