The Buffalo Sabres signed Casey Mittelstadt to a new one-year contract worth $847,125, the same amount as his qualifying offer. Mittelstadt was a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights and thus little leverage in negotiations.
Mittelstadt, 22, is one of the most fascinating players to keep an eye on in Buffalo this season as he enters his third full season. Selected eighth overall in 2017, he has been a huge disappointment so far, recording just 39 points in 114 NHL games and spending the majority of last season in the minor leagues. Though he did score 25 points in 36 games for the Rochester Americans, a player drafted that high is expected to be either in the NHL or dominating the minor league level after three years.
In reality, it’s unclear if Mittelstadt will even have a role on this version of the Sabres. They added Eric Staal, Cody Eakin, Tobias Rieder and Taylor Hall in the offseason, giving them a much deeper forward group than the last few years. Given that increased depth and the fact that Mittelstadt is still waiver-exempt, it makes more sense for him to be on the taxi squad than the active roster unless he forces the coaches’ hands at training camp. That’s certainly possible, but remember the team will also have Dylan Cozens returning from the WJC at some point and potentially joining the club, plus have some older prospects who could also push for playing time.
If Mittelstadt wants to be a part of this rebuild in Buffalo, he has to show it this season. Whenever he gets a chance to get onto the ice, his game has to be more polished and capable at both ends of the rink. That’s certainly not out of the question for a player who has such high skill, but he’s in danger of being left behind while the team improves without him.
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