If Mittelstadt is available, I very much doubt Buffalo has any plans of sending him anywhere within the division.

Fair point

Cates is probably part of the rebuild

Honestly I don't Boston has the assets that would interest want of those teams into moving want of those players. I think the only way any of those guys gets moved would be in a package for a better player. Boston doesn't have any player they would be willing to move that fits that bill. Be better off going for Lindholm even though I don't think that's a great idea either.

AZ not moving either - 22yo coming into being a solid 2C and a 19yo power F prolly tops out as 3C. AZ is weakest at C would have to be huge overpay IMO

It’s possible Mitts could be available….
BUT
it would likely have to be a mid-season move

With Quinn out to start the season, i don’t see us moving Mittelstadt until he returns
At that point, we MIGHT consider trading him, but it depends how our season is going

And the obvious target for us MIGHT be one of your goalies,
but that would obviously depend on how our young goalies are doing


Also, while a Center for goalie trade could seemingly make sense for both teams, it’s probably a stretch to see the Bruins & Sabres help each other when they’re both likely competing for a Playoff spot


To answer your question about Mitts at Center:
He has played mostly on the wing here, but i feel like a lot of that has to do with him battling numerous injuries
Last season however,
when Tage Thompson went out with injury Mitts filled in & was so good, that when Thompson came back, they played him at RW2 and kept Mittelstadt at 1C
So, long answer short, he can play both.
And I’m sure he could play between Pasta & Marchand and get the puck to them

Mittelstadt seems to play at least the last couple of years better as a winger. I think he's a top six winger and a middle six center. Will see this year with Quinn being out if he can step up. I can see them trading him mid season. But Kevyn Adams is odd when it comes to trades

Swayman

I don’t think I single player you mentioned is available lol Cates definitely isn’t, nor is he a 1C

Swayman or Carlo would be what I would ask for. Not a mittelstadt fan myself, obviously mittelstadt would have more value as a center, he had some late season success playing with tuch last season, and he reached a career high 59 points because of it. What I see with mittelstadt, is a guy without speed or physicality, who isn't particularly good with the defensive part of being a center. Buffalo probably waits until Quinn gets back, which gives any potential buyer another half season of tape to look at, which probably benefits the buyer.

Cates is part of the rebuild and he isn't a 1C