Last April, when Casey Mittelstadt wristed a laser past Tampa Bay Lightning
goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, scoring his first-ever NHL goal, it likely felt
as good for Buffalo Sabres fans as it did for the 19-year-old.

The native of Eden Prairie, MN, raised his hands in celebration and got the
expected head taps and fist bumps from his teammates. After all, a player's
first goal is something special; a moment that he will never forget; the
realization of a dream come true.

For fans, the goal was a promise of better days; a glimpse of an
offensively-minded talent that will likely help turn this team around.
Mittelstadt is another reason to see the glass half full for a Sabres franchise
 that desperately needs to climb out of irrelevance and snap its seven-year
playoff absence.Mittelstadt';s First Taste of the NHL

Mittelstadt appeared in six games at the end of the 2017-18 season, notching a
goal and four assists while averaging just under 14 minutes of ice time per
game. In this small sample size, he had nine shots on goal, a plus-1 rating,
and won 17 of 36 faceoffs.

Fans gave Mittelstadt a rousing ovation for his first shift. Some were already
sporting No. 37 jerseys. "It's cool to see that and it's cool to have people
excited that I'm here,'' said the baby-faced center.  "Obviously, I'm excited
to be here too."

While the brief showing burned a year off his entry-level contract, the handful
 of games also gave him a taste of the big league. He got to experience how the
 team practices and prepares for games, the importance of nutrition and more.
"I think … it opened his eyes up a little bit to what it means to be a
National Hockey League player, what the guys are doing after a game in terms of
 workouts and how they're eating," said Sabres assistant general manager Steve
Greeley.Minnesota's Mr. Hockey

In 2016, Mittelstadt was offered the opportunity to attend the University of
Minnesota a year early but declined, instead deciding to complete his senior
year of high school. Mittelstadt was focused on winning a state title for his
high school, Eden Prairie. The draw for the elusive title had crept into his
blood. "One more go at the dream with the boys I grew up with," Mittelstadt
tweeted soon thereafter.Casey Mittelstadt playing for Eden Prairie High School
(Credit: Nick Wosika)

The back of Eden Prairie's practice jerseys read "For Those I Love, I Will
Sacrifice." But Mittelstadt bristled at the notion that he personified the
motto. "I don't see what I'm doing as a sacrifice for them," he said. "I'm just
 happy to be here. I can't really imagine being anywhere else."

It was a critical decision and his opponents paid the consequence of it. He
played lights-out hockey, filling nets and shredding goalies while scoring at a
 2.5 point-per-game pace for 25 games. He outscored his closest teammate by 19
points, led the conference in assists (43) and points (64), and earned the
All-USA Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season. He went on
a tear in the 2016 title run, electrifying the Xcel Energy Center crowd by
tallying 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in three games, however, his bid
 to lead Eden Prairie to a state AA title fell just short, making it to the
semifinals.

Some scouts held the decision to chase a high school championship against
Mittelstadt. They felt that he developed bad habits while playing another year
against inferior competition and his development had been stunted. He would
often force plays and try to skate through his opponents rather than around it.
 While his speed and creativity may have enabled him to succeed, critics felt
it was doubtful he'd be able to pull off the same moves at the professional
level. He may have been better off honing his game against top competition.

Others, like Craig Button, the former Calgary Flames General Manager who is now
 an analyst for the NHL Network and TSN, disagreed. "You only get your high
school years once. He wanted to lead them to a state championship," Button
said. "They made the semifinals, but it was a good run. I love players who,
when they commit to something, they're all in. I don't know how anyone wouldn't
 want that."

Mittelstadt later tweeted, "A lot was made out about me only coming back to win
 a state tournament, in my eyes it was all about another 5 months with the kids
 I love and grew up with. When you all fall in love with the same game
together, it makes it that much more special and that much harder. So much goes
 into winning, and sometimes things just don';t go your way. Laying it on the
line with my brothers will be the best memories of my entire life. ... Thanks
everyone who helped us out growing up through the years and who supported us
this weekend. Nothing like MN hockey. #Eaglesforlife"

As Minnesota's top high-school senior, Mittelstadt was given the prestigious
honor and title of the Mr. Hockey. The award has been won by NHLers Ryan
McDonagh (2007), Nick Leddy (2009) and Nick Bjugstad (2010).Mittelstadt Rises
Through the Ranks

Mittelstadt played briefly-24 games-for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.
While he piled on 30 points (13 goals and 17 assists), nearly all of them came
with the man advantage, raising some flags he couldn't produce at even
strength. The reality was the team just wasn't that good. They struggled to put
 the puck in the net, finishing third to last in 5-on-5 goals, and failed to
have a player in the league's top 20 in scoring. It's very possible
Mittelstadt's low production was directly related to his sub-par teammates. At
times, it appeared he was trying to do everything by himself. Even so, with
such a small sample size of games, it's not fair to judge his output.Casey
Mittelstadt had a short stint with the Gamblers. (courtesy United States Hockey
 League)

In the span of less than a year, Mittelstadt quickly ascended from a high
school star at Eden Prairie High to a difference maker in his freshman year at
the University of Minnesota, where he scored 11 goals and 19 assists in 34
games. He also pitched in 11 points for the United States at the 2018 IIHF
World Junior Championship en route to a bronze medal and being named the
tournament's most valuable player. He skated around with speed, reading plays
like he already saw the game footage.

According to Elite Prospects, Mittelstadt is an electric offensive presence on
the ice. He embodies the complete package of speed, skill, and hockey sense
while competing hard every shift. He also has the dynamic puck skills to keep
up with his creativity, a hallmark of his game. His awareness is
all-encompassing and he never puts his teammates in positions where their time
and space will be bottlenecked.

Selected by the Sabres with the eighth overall pick, Mittelstadt could
eventually become the best player from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The class
features Nico Hischier (No. 1 overall) of the New Jersey Devils, Nolan Patrick
(No. 2 overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers, Miro Heishkanen (No. 3 overall) of
the Dallas Stars and Cale Makar (No. 4 overall) of the Colorado Avalanche.The
Sabres Depth at Center

It's widely believed that winning hockey clubs build up the middle. With Ryan
O'Reilly dealt to the St. Louis Blues, the Sabres are counting on Mittelstadt
to step in and contribute. This fall, the skilled and tenaciously hard-working
center is slotted as the second line center behind Jack Eichel. They clearly
see him as a key piece of the puzzle moving forward.

The Sabres depth chart now features Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt, followed
 versatile swing forward/wingers Patrik Berglund, Zemgus Girgensons and Johan
Larsson. On the horizon are prospect Sean Malone, Rasmus Asplund and Andrew
Oglevie.Working His Way Up

Although the 6-foot-1, 201 pound forward was unable to represent the United
States at the 2018 IIHF world championships in May due to a groin injury, he
dazzled onlookers at the Sabres' recent development camp with some nifty moves
and impressive goals. He has the creativity to open up lanes in the attacking
end and the vision to lead teammates into scoring areas with insightful passes.
 "I think the Casey [we saw at development camp] is more mature, more refined
in terms of trying to become an everyday great National Hockey League player,"
said Greeley.

He's filled out his frame a little more. "I've definitely been working on
training, that's the most important," said Mittelstadt in his second
development camp in HarborCenter. "Get in the weight room, stuff like that. Get
 to July, I'll start ramping up the skating a lot more. Definitely working on
my shot."

This summer, Mittelstadt is playing in Da Beauty League - a Minnesota-based
summer league many NHLers participate in annually. They play on Wednesdays and
it's livestreamed.

The #DBL Top 🔟 Week 2 
🔟 @gollygoose33 
9️⃣ @BBoeser16 @canucks 
8️⃣ @ECondra 
7️⃣ Casey Pass
6️⃣ @tyguy102 
5️⃣ Justin Braun @SanJoseSharks 
4️⃣ Teddy Blueger @penguins
3️⃣ @Bnelson 🎩 
2️⃣ @CMittelstadt ⚔️ @buffalosabres
1️⃣ @MikeyEyssimont 👑@buccigross pic.twitter.com/7nQqyBQ272

- Da Beauty League (@DaBeautyLeague) July 20, 2018

Not only can he make plays at high speed, his shot is dangerous and accurate.
His quick release can beat goalies clean, even when they are square and
seemingly in good position. His puck handling skills and vision of the game are
 just as impressive.Related - Sabres Fans Bickering: A Great ThingSabres in
the ΓÇÿMittel' of a Turnaround

Mittelstadt has an electric offensive presence. He has great acceleration and
the dynamic puck skills, strength and tenacity to take the puck to areas of the
 ice where goals are scored. While all of these characteristics are present, it
 may take some time for him to put it all together. He's played his game with
relative ease thus far but the NHL is an entirely new level of competition.

Given his decision to pursue a high school state championship, Mittelstadt
doesn't have as much experience playing at high levels compared to many of his
draft peers. However, the way he plays the game, with tremendous awareness and
speed on the ice may compensate.Will Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt make an
immediate impact? (Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports)

While hype and expectations run high for Mittelstadt, he's only one player. The
 new 2018-19 Sabres roster has been significantly overhauled. Gone are
goaltenders Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson, forwards Ryan O'Reilly, Benoit
Pouliot, and defensemen Josh Gorges and Victor Antipin. Welcomed to the Blue
and Gold family are Rasmus Dahlin, Conor Sheary, Vladimir Sobotka, Patrik
Berglund, Matt Hunwick, Carter Hutton and Tage Thompson among others.

Mittelstadt's end of last season debut likely gave Head Coach Phil Housley
flashbacks. Both players are from Minnesota and both broke into the league at a
 young age with high expectations. Housley, a defenseman, put up 19 goals and
47 assists for 66 points in 1982-83, his rookie year.

Come September and training camp, the plan calls for Mittelstadt to be ready to
 step right into a revamped roster. He's excited for the new season and has
high expectations for himself but was cautious about setting benchmarks. "I
don't put numbers on paper and want to get these numbers," Mittelstadt said. "I
 want to come and prove I can play and make plays at the highest level."

The post Mittelstadt and the Sabres Big Year Ahead appeared first on The Hockey
 Writers.

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