This is a crucial year for Casey Mittelstadt’s development

The Buffalo Sabres have been waiting patiently for Casey Mittelstadt to take that jump, but it hasn’t happened yet. Can this be the year?

Remember when the Buffalo Sabres drafted Casey Mittelstadt with the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft? At the time, it seemed like an excellent move that would add speed to an offense that needed scoring.

After achieving MVP honors and a bronze medal in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, many were starting to see the potential upside in the young player. If developed properly, he could’ve been a two-line or three-line center by the time the 2020-21 season started.

Unfortunately, development hasn’t gone as planned and the young player hasn’t taken that next step. He was thrust into a 2C role at just 19 years old during the 2018-19 season, recording just 12 goals and 13 assists in 77 games.

Despite 114 NHL appearances over the past two years — including one full NHL season in 2018-19 — he only has 17 goals and 22 assists.

Last season, he spent 31 games in the NHL as the team’s 3C before being demoted to the AHL, where he spent the remaining 36 games to end the season. He had just 4 goals and 5 assists in the NHL, but his production increased in the AHL (9 goals, 16 assists).

Here’s a look at Casey Mittelstadt last season, courtesy of Dobber Prospects:

Personally, I think part of his struggles were contributed to his line mates, which were mostly Jimmy Vesey, Connor Sheary, and Marcus Johansson — none of which are on the team anymore. Of course, he’s also playing a little too passive at times and struggles with the forecheck.

With the way the offseason is going for the Buffalo Sabres, it’s looking very unlikely that Casey Mittelstadt makes the opening day roster. To many, that would be alarming for a former 8th overall draft pick entering his third professional season — even from what has been a weak 2017 NHL draft class.

While frustrating, he’ll only be 22 years old by the time the season starts — meaning he still has time to turn things around.

And I think he will, but a lot of that will be riding on what happens this season. Since there’s no room at center with the addition of Cody Eakin and the contract given to Curtis Lazar, the only way I see him making the opening day roster is on the wing, which I don’t see happening. He’s a young player with a lot of upside, but there’s simply not enough room on the roster right now.

With that being said, the AHL is the next feasible option and that’s likely where he ends up. To be honest, I believe that’s what he needs right now. He needs to gain some confidence. He needs to find his game. He needs to learn how to drive his own line. And he needs to gain some momentum in his career before returning to the NHL.

Starting the season in the AHL is the best move for Casey Mittelstadt and his development. The Buffalo Sabres have already vowed to focus more on developing young talent this year at the AHL level, which was why they brought in Seth Appert as head coach. They’ve also added a few familiar faces in Matt Ellis, Adam Mair, and Mike Weber to assist with development.

Development has also been a major focus at the NHL level, especially with the signing of Eric Staal — who should help develop Dylan Cozens and prepare him for a center role in the NHL.

With the Rochester Americans, Casey Mittelstadt would likely man the top line as center. He would pair nicely with a couple of players that are used to the AHL.

C.J. Smith and Andrew Oglevie are two players that come to mind. Smith has 57 goals and 72 assist over 169 games with Rochester. Oglevie has 20 goals and 19 assists over 83 games with Rochester.

With Mittelstadt, the three would make a dominant pair and take some of the pressure off some of the younger players the Sabres want to develop.

Of course, Casey Mittelstadt needs to sign that two-way contract first.

He’s currently the only restricted free agent not under contract after signing Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson to deals. Mittelstadt isn’t arbitration eligible and is waiver-exempt, so it’s best to get it done now before we see Lawrence Pilut 2.0.

Either way, Casey Mittelstadt has a lot to prove this season.

If he doesn’t show the improvement we need to see, then the Buffalo Sabres are going to be left with a world of questions surrounding the young player’s future with the team.

He’s still young and it’s too early to panic, but time’s certainly running thin for the former No. 8 overall draft pick.

What do you think happens with Casey Mittelstadt this season? Does he excel in the AHL? Does he fail to find his footing? Is he potential trade bait if things go sour?

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