Casey Mittelstadt holds a lot of value for the Buffalo Sabres, and there are more than a few solid reasons for the organization to hang onto him. But the NHL is also an unpredictable business, so nothing general manager Kevyn Adams and company do come March 8th should surprise us if he gets an enticing offer from a contender or even a team on the playoff bubble.
Mittelstadt would attract quite a few contenders who may not have an advanced budget at or near the trade deadline, but don’t be surprised if a few teams who can afford him to inquire.
A productive but by no means a star player, Mittelstadt won’t command a huge salary or perhaps even a long-term contract if he goes elsewhere and a potential new team seeks to extend him. Yet, since his productivity saw a decent uptick around the middle of the 2022-23 season, Mittelstadt has proven that at the absolute least he can make things happen on the middle-six and even the top line should injuries strike.
He’s also the type of player who could give anyone’s power play a boost, so less-than-stellar teams on the man advantage may also voice their interest.
A few teams should call the Sabres about Casey Mittelstadt’s availability
Given his modest contract and solid productivity over the past 16 months, quite a few teams would be correct to call the Sabres to see if they can work out a deal for Mittelstadt, but there are three teams that rise above the rest.
One team listed in the following slides needs somebody to help turn around their lackluster offense. Another would use Mittelstadt to create a better balance for their entire unit, while the third team listed has had success in working out deals with the Sabres in the recent past.