Casey Mittelstadt

Casey Mittelstadt
Mittelstadt in 2018
Born (1998-11-22) November 22, 1998 (age 25)
Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft 8th overall, 2017
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2018–present

Casey Mittelstadt (born November 22, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

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Amateur

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Mittelstadt was born in Edina, Minnesota, but grew up in nearby Eden Prairie. He attended Eden Prairie High School and was chosen as ALL-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.[1] He was likewise named Mr. Hockey, the best high school senior hockey player in the state of Minnesota, for 2017.[2] He was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[3]

Collegiate

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Having committed to a collegiate career, Mittelstadt played as a freshman forward during the 2017–18 season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[4][5] After ranking second on the team, and seventh among all NCAA freshmen with 30 points, Mittelstadt was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.[6] He was also selected as a finalist for Freshman of the Year, along with Quinn Hughes and Mitchell Lewandowski,[7] with the award ultimately going to Lewandowski.[8]

Professional

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Buffalo Sabres

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Mittelstadt going after the puck in a game against the Seattle Kraken in 2022.

On March 26, 2018, Mittelstadt opted to leave the college ranks and was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Buffalo Sabres.[9] He made his NHL debut on March 29, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings, recording an assist.[10] He recorded his first career NHL goal on April 6, in a 7–5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[11]

Rather than assign him to the American Hockey League (AHL), Buffalo management opted to have Mittelstadt play the entire 2018–19 season with the team. He struggled throughout the year, recording just 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 77 games.

After struggling again to start the 2019–20 season, Mittelstadt was assigned to the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' AHL affiliate, on December 15, 2019.[12]

On December 23, 2020, Mittelstadt signed a one-year contract with the Sabres.[13]

On September 2, 2021, Mittlestadt signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Sabres.[14]

In the final year of his contract with the Sabres in the 2023–24 season, Mittelstadt was deployed as the Sabres top line two-way centre and responded in leading the club with in scoring with 33 assists and 47 points through 62 regular season games.

Colorado Avalanche

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With the Sabres outside playoff contention, Mittelstadt's seven year tenure ended after he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram on March 6, 2024.[15] Acquired to assume second-line center duties behind Nathan MacKinnon, he made his debut two days later for the Avalanche in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild on March 8, 2024.[16] He registered his first goal in the following game for the Avalanche in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on March 12, 2024.[17] Adding needed depth to the Avalanche center position, Mittelstadt completed the regular season with 10 points through 18 games.[18]

Qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in his career, Mittelstadt made his post-season debut in the opening round game against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first playoff goal in a high-scoring 7-6 defeat on April 21, 2024.[19] In 11 Playoff games, Mittelstadt registered 9 points with all 9 of the his playoff points coming at even-strength, to tying him with Mikko Rantanen for the team-lead in that category.

After the Avalanche's second-round defeat to the Dallas Stars, Mittelstadt as a restricted free agent was later re-signed by Colorado to a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension on June 26, 2024.[20][21]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2018 United States
IIHF World U18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2016 United States

Mittelstadt played for the United States junior team in the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped lead the team to win bronze with a tournament-high 11 points, and was selected as the tournament's Best Forward. A fan favorite, Mittelstadt was named to the tournament all-star team, and received the title of Tournament MVP by media.[22]

Personal life

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Mittelstadt has two younger brothers, John and Luke, who both play collegiately for the University of Minnesota of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA),[23] with the latter being a seventh round selection of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[24]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Eden Prairie High School MSHSL 25 22 25 47 12 2 2 1 3 0
2015–16 Eden Prairie High School MSHSL 25 22 37 59 16 3 6 3 9 0
2015–16 U.S. National Development Team USHL 2 2 0 2 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Eden Prairie High School MSHSL 25 21 43 64 8 2 1 4 5 0
2016–17 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 24 13 17 30 2 — — — — —
2017–18 University of Minnesota B1G 34 11 19 30 10 — — — — —
2017–18 Buffalo Sabres NHL 6 1 4 5 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 12 13 25 10 — — — — —
2019–20 Buffalo Sabres NHL 31 4 5 9 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Rochester Americans AHL 36 9 16 25 6 — — — — —
2020–21 Buffalo Sabres NHL 41 10 12 22 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 40 6 13 19 4 — — — — —
2022–23 Buffalo Sabres NHL 82 15 44 59 22 — — — — —
2023–24 Buffalo Sabres NHL 62 14 33 47 28 — — — — —
2023–24 Colorado Avalanche NHL 18 4 6 10 4 11 3 6 9 2
NHL totals 357 66 130 196 82 11 3 6 9 2

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2016 United States WJC18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 4 5 9 2
2016 United States IH18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 3 4 7 4
2018 United States WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 4 7 11 2
Junior totals 18 11 16 27 8

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
College
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2018 [6]
International
World Juniors Most Valuable Player 2018 [22]
World Juniors Best Forward 2018 [22]
World Juniors All-Star team 2018 [22]

References

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  1. ^ "ALL-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year: Casey Mittelstadt, Eden Prairie (Minn.)". USA Today High School Sports. April 5, 2016.
  2. ^ Gonzalez, Jason (March 22, 2017). "Minnesota Mr. Hockey Casey Mittelstadt moves on from state tournament heartache". Star Tribune.
  3. ^ Share-Cohen, Brandon (June 23, 2017). "2017 NHL Draft: Sabres Pick Casey Mittelstadt #8 Overall". TheHockeyWriters.com.
  4. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey – 2017–18 Roster". University of Minnesota Athletics.
  5. ^ "Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's Hockey 2017-2018 Team Statistics". USCHO.com.
  6. ^ a b "MITTELSTADT NAMED TO BIG TEN ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM". University of Minnesota Athletics. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Johnson, Randy (March 7, 2018). "Gophers forward Casey Mittelstadt is finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  8. ^ "Michigan State hockey's Lewandowski named B1G Freshman of the Year". Lansing State Journal. March 13, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sabres sign Casey Mittelstadt to entry-level contract". Sportsnet.ca. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Vogl, John (March 30, 2018). "Sabres again taken to school in Mittelstadt's debut". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  11. ^ Harrington, Mike (April 7, 2018). "Mittelstadt, Nylander net first career goals in wild first period". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Ryndak, Chris. "Sabres assign Mittelstadt to Rochester". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved December 15, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  13. ^ "Sabres sign restricted free agent Casey Mittelstadt to one-year deal". Sportsnet.ca. December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Mittelstadt signs three-year, $7.5 million contract with Sabres". NHL.com. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  15. ^ LaBarber, Jourdon (March 6, 2024). "Sabres acquire Byram from Avalanche". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ "Nichushkin scores overtime winner in return to lineup". ESPN.com. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Mikko Rantanen extends point streak to 10 games with four more as Avs beat Flames 6-2". ESPN.com. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Myers, Tracey (May 1, 2024). "Avalanche depth players 'super-impressive' in first-round victory". NHL.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  19. ^ "Lowry, Connor propel Jets to 7-6 playoff win over Avalanche". ESPN.com. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  20. ^ "Avalanche Re-Signs Mittelstadt". Colorado Avalanche. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  21. ^ "Avalanche re-sign Casey Mittelstadt to three-year deal, reported AAV of $5.75M". Sportsnet.ca. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d "World Junior Championship Tournament Awards". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  23. ^ Stieg, Ryan (April 22, 2024). "Minnesota: Family Tradition". Minnesota Hockey Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  24. ^ Ferrari, Tony (August 2, 2023). "2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool Overview: Montreal Canadiens". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2017 		Succeeded by
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