Casey Mittelstadt

Casey Mittelstadt (born November 22, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Mittelstadt was born in Edina, Minnesota, but grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Amateur
Mittelstadt attended Eden Prairie High School and was chosen as ALL-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. He was named Mr. Hockey, the best high school senior hockey player in Minnesota, in 2017. He was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Mittelstadt having committed to a collegiate career, played as a freshman forward on the 2017–18 Minnesota Golden Gophers team. After ranking second on the team, and seventh among all NCAA freshmen, with 30 points Mittelstadt was selected for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He was also selected as a finalist for Freshman of the Year, along with Quinn Hughes and Mitchell Lewandowski, with the award eventually going to Lewandowski.

Buffalo Sabres
On March 26, 2018, Mittelstadt opted to conclude his collegiate career and was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut on March 29, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings, recording an assist. He recorded his first career NHL goal on April 6, in a 7–5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Rather than assign him to the AHL, Buffalo management opted to have Mittelstadt play the entire 2018–19 season with the team. He struggled throughout the year, recording just 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 77 games.

After struggling again to start the 2019–20 season, Mittelstadt was assigned to the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, on December 15, 2019.

On December 23, 2020, Mittelstadt signed a one-year contract with the Sabres.

On September 2, 2021, Mittlestadt signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Sabres.

In the final year of his contract with the Sabres in the season, Mittelstadt was deployed as the Sabres top line two-way centre and responded in leading the club with in scoring with 33 assists and 47 points through 62 regular season games.

Colorado Avalanche
With the Sabres outside playoff contention, Mittelstadt's seven year tenure ended after he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram on March 6, 2024. Acquired to assume second-line centre duties behind Nathan MacKinnon, he made his debut two days later for the Avalanche in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild on March 8, 2024. He registered his first goal in the following game for the Avalanche in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on March 12, 2024. Adding needed depth to the Avalanche center position, Mittelstadt completed the regular season with 10 points through 18 games.

Qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in his career, Mittelstadt made his post-season debut in the opening round game against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first playoff goal in a high-scoring 7-6 defeat on April 21, 2024. In 11 Playoff games, Mittelstadt registered 9 points with all 9 of the his playoff points coming at even-strength, to tying him with Mikko Rantanen for the team-lead in that category.

After the Avalanche's second-round defeat to the Dallas Stars, Mittelstadt as a restricted free agent was later re-signed by Colorado to a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension on June 26, 2024.

International play
Mittelstadt played for the United States junior team in the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped lead the team to win bronze with a tournament-high 11 points, and was selected as the tournament's Best Forward. A fan favorite, Mittelstadt was named to the tournament all-star team, and received the title of Tournament MVP by media.