3 teams that should call the Sabres for Casey Mittelstadt by the trade deadline

Casey Mittelstadt could be the missing piece in Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Jets can afford to bring in Casey Mittelstadt, and arguably the best defensive team in the league would get a major boost from his presence. Few opponents have figured out how to score on the Jets, but they still lag behind the league average offensively, scoring just 172 goals, which ranks 20th in the league. 

One major reason came from Kyle Connor missing so much time with an injury, but even with Connor back in the lineup, the Jets have not been all-world when in the offensive zone. Therefore, few teams should be bigger shoppers at the deadline than Winnipeg. Bringing in Sean Monahan was a solid move, but with just five points in eight games, he’s not transforming anyone offensively. 

Mittelstadt, however, has the ability to give the Jets scoring a significant boost, whether he’s taking the puck to the net or passing it to an open linemate. And when you look at the 25-year-old’s possession metrics, they show us that Mittelstadt’s presence has not just helped put others in prime position to score, but to put the puck in the back of the net. 

At even strength, the team’s shooting percentage is 13.2 percent, with Mittelstadt on the ice, and it’s 12.9 at 5-on-5. To put things into perspective, these are his highest numbers since his six-game trial in 2017-18.