I don't disagree, because I felt the same + injury history. But were we really going to ever pay Casey 7 million long term? Probably not. If you want to argue him vs Cozens (who I think will pull it together) that's something else.
But after both Tage and Cozens were signed, unless you want to move one of Quinn or Peterka, Mittelstadt was good as gone.
You could have easily fit all 3 long term, if you wanted to go that direction. The cap is going to be well over 90M by the time Peterka/Quinn are RFAs.
In the end, moving Mittelstadt was never an issue. I suggested that we needed to bring in a different type of center this summer as the mix wasn't functional. However, moving him for a d-man that isn't complementary to what they have is problematic.
The trade was, for better or worse, a money decision. And we will see this summer what the "plan" is, but, at least for now it seems that it is:
1. Replace Mittelstadt internally. Kulich, Savoie, Ostulund, Krebs. One of those.
2. Acquire a 4th line center
3. Acquire a top 6 Winger.
Adams has simply said as much.
What would have been more expensive would be to keep Mittelstadt, add a top 4 d-man, and a 4th line center and a top 6 winger.
Do-able, for sure, but expensive.