The Boston Bruins could be major players in the trade market at some point this season. In particular, the evident shortage of centers on the block has made the market especially competitive.
One center believed to be available is Casey Mittelstadt. However, one notable analyst made it clear that the Bruins center is far from a good option.
During an appearance on Frankly Hockey with Frank Seravalli, analyst Craig Button dropped this harsh opinion regarding the Bruins’ top-six forward:
“I’m not going anywhere near Casey Mittelstadt.”
The words underscore Button’s perceived lack of commitment and compete from the 26-year-old. Button expounded on his point by stating:
“I’m going to be really straightforward. I’ve watched Casey for a long time. I don’t think it’s about Casey lacking skill. I think it’s about Casey lacking competitive spirit. So, if you want a player with a little bit of skill and can tease you a little bit, and doesn’t compete, Casey’s your guy.”
Button doubled down on his point by stating that teams interested in winning, like the Boston Bruins, would do well to stay away from the former first-round pick.
The criticism pours cold water on the Mittelstadt trade rumors. The Bruins landed the Minnesota native in a trade deadline deal with the Colorado Avalanche last season. The Bruins sent Charlie Coyle to the Avs with Mittelstadt coming back.
But judging from Button’s comments, it might be that the Bruins could be stuck with Mittelstadt as the market for this particular player may be beyond ice cold.
Bruins Still on Hook for Mittelstadt for 2 More Seasons
The Bruins are still on the hook for Casey Mittelstadt for two more seasons. The nine-year player signed a three-year extension with the Avalanche heading into last season. The deal came with a $5.75 million AAV.
However, the Avalanche decided to cut their losses, shipping Mittelstadt to the Bruins at the deadline. The Bruins are now stuck with two more seasons of Mittelstadt’s contract. While two years is hardly a lifetime, Boston may be uneasy about having to pay up that much.
In six games this season, Mittelstadt has just two goals and no assists. That situation led him to gradually slide down the depth chart until he finally became a healthy scratch in the Bruins’ last game, a 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth.
The Bruins will be back on the ice to face former captain Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. It looks like Mittelstadt will ride the press box again, as there’s no indication he’ll be back in the lineup.
That situation could mean that Casey Mittelstadt’s days in Boston are numbered. But then again, the club may struggle to move Mittelstadt. It’s somewhat of a catch-22 amid the situation both sides face.
Boston May Have to Explore Cap Dump Move
The Bruins may have no other choice but to explore a cap dump move involving Casey Mittelstadt. At the moment, Boston wouldn’t be desperate to unload the former Buffalo Sabre. The team has over $2 million in cap space. There are no significant injuries, so no other contracts would be jumping into the books.
But the relatively stable cap situation for Boston doesn’t mean that Mittelstadt’s cap hit isn’t weighing on the Bruins’ books. The club might feel that Mittelstadt might be holding them back from making other deals.
That pressure could increase as the season wears on. Jeremy Swayman has been stellar, and the Bruins are looking good in the standings. If this trend keeps up, GM Don Sweeney could be willing to make a move sooner rather than later.
But if Mittelstadt’s cap hit gets in the way, the team may need to dump his contract. Very few teams can afford to take on his full cap hit. So, a trade involving some retention could grease the wheels.
Unless Casey Mittelstadt can somehow get things back on track, the Bruins are caught holding the bag with no one else willing to let them off the hook.
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