Sabres' Casey Mittelstadt has surgery, could return before end of season

The Buffalo Sabres fell to 8-14-3 on the season via Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks and experienced an all-too-familiar setback during that defeat. 

According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt underwent surgery Friday to repair an unspecified upper-body injury. Buffalo coach Don Granato told reporters he's hopeful Mittelstadt will be back in the lineup before the season concludes in the spring. 

"We'll know more – we don't have the timetable yet from the doctor," Granato explained. "We'll share that as soon as we do." 

Mittelstadt, 23, initially suffered an injury in the season opener on Oct. 14 and missed a total of 21 games before he returned to action last week. Per Heather Engel of the NHL's website, the Sabres say this latest problem is "in the area" of the previous issue. 

In total, Mittelstadt tallied only one goal across four games this fall. Depending on what occurs over the next several months, logic suggests the Sabres may ultimately shut him down at some point early next year. 

"We definitely all feel bad for him," said Dylan Cozens, who is on track to replace Mittelstadt on the top forward line. "He had a great second half of the season last year, and obviously, he worked really hard this summer and we were all excited to see what he was going to do this year. That first injury was tough and then obviously another injury. It’s disappointing to see."

Mittelstadt recorded 10 goals and 12 assists in 41 contests during the pandemic-altered 2020-21 campaign.