Flyers Trade Target Not Being Shopped, Sabres GM Says

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams made an appearance on WGR 550, claiming that he’s not shopping potential Philadelphia Flyers trade target Casey Mittelstadt.

“My expectation is that we’ll work toward a contract and get him signed,” Adams said. “But I have to be willing to listen to everything.”

“I know that there’s some reports out there that we’re shopping him – that could not be further from the truth.”

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said on @WGR550 that he's not "shopping" Casey Mittelstadt.

"My expectation is that we'll work toward a contract and get him signed, but I have to be willing to listen to everything." https://t.co/CgBjPAYv0H

— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) February 13, 2024

The Sabres GM also made it clear that he’s not interested in moving his players for “future-type of deals”, meaning no draft picks or prospects. The Sabres are rumored to have been sniffing around for veterans, including Flyers forward Scott Laughton. The Sabres have been a consistent presence at Flyers games over the last month or two.

When the Casey Mittelstadt trade rumors first caught serious wind, the consensus seemed to be that the Sabres wanted to add goaltending. That’s not something the Flyers can or should try to do, but the Flyers do have several veteran defensemen that would instantly bring a stabilizing presence to the defense, which has notably struggled for Buffalo all year.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has had a fairly strong season, and Devon Levi is one of the league’s top goaltending prospects. The Flyers won’t have anything to add to that.

Former Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has supposedly been a hot name on the NHL trade block, though it doesn’t appear the Flyers are jumping at the chance to move him. Ristolainen has also been sick and injured in the last couple of days.

If the Flyers are unable to pry Mittelstadt from the Sabres, it would be a small shame. The 25-year-old would be an excellent addition to a center group that includes the surging Morgan Frost and the veteran Sean Couturier. Mittelstadt also brings some versatility and would be the ideal fit in Philadelphia for both the short and long-term.

In the meantime, the Flyers will continue to mull over tough decisions on their own pending free agents, as the NHL trade deadline is a little over four weeks away now.

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