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On Sunday, I told you to keep an eye on the University of Minnesota men's hockey team for a potential head coaching change. The Golden Gophers failed to earn berth in the 2018 NCAA Men's Hockey tournament and it may end up costing Gophers head coach Don Lucia his job. There have been murmurs in recent weeks regarding Lucia's future at Minnesota. If in fact he is on his way out, then that would open the door for several of his top recruits to pursue other options as well.
Buffalo Sabres fans are clamoring to know if a Lucia departure from the Golden Gophers hockey program will be the catalyst for change that will activates the end of days for Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt at the University of Minnesota.
In other words, if in fact Lucia is out at Minny, Mittelstadt may be more apt to want to turn pro than stay and play in college for three more seasons.
Mittelstadt was the 8th overall pick of the Sabres at the 2017 NHL Draft.
Mittelstadt will have many options to consider now that his freshman season is completed at Minnesota. He can opt to sign a amateur tryout contract with the Sabres AHL affiliate in Rochester. He can also sign his entry level contract with the Sabres. If and when Mittelstadt signs with the Sabres or Amerks, he will null and void his final three seasons of NCAA hockey eligibility.
Imagine a fully stacked Rochester Amerks roster with a young rock star like Casey Mittestadt playing in the AHL playoffs. Can you say Calder Cup championship?
Is there an appetite for Sabres GM Jason Botterill to bring Mittelstadt to Buffalo to sign his NHL entry level contract now that his freshman season is over? Is Botterill interested in burning a year of Mittelstadt's ELC in order to play 10 games with the Sabres and then join the Amerks for their playoff run?
Botterill's campaign platform was and still is to restore the winning culture inside the Rochester Amerks organization. In the '90s, Botterill played for the Amerks. He has seen the best of times. He inherited an Amerks squad that has fallen on hard times in recent years due to poor management by his predecessor Tim Murray. Botterill is a huge believer is creating a mentoring, nurturing environment in the AHL where his prospects can grow their individual games while playing meaningful games against older professional players. Botterill is engaged in teh process of emulating the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins development model inside Sabreland. What better way to restore the loving feeling inside the organization than to win a Calder Cup?
Why not load up on assets and take an upper deck cut at the home run fence in center field?
Mittelstadt is Buffalo's top prospect. Based on his freshman season at Minnesota and his MVP performances at the IIHF World Juniors tourney in Buffalo earlier this year, Mittelstadt is widely regarded as the best hockey prospect in North America today. Vancouver Canucks prospect Elias Pettersson is the second best prospect at this time.
If I were Jason Botterill, I would be doing everything in my power to get Mittestadt signed to an ATO with the Amerks, or, his ELC with the Sabres.
It's time to throw a bone to Sabres fans and reward them for their loyalty and unwavering support during the past five seasons of futility. Mittelstadt is the ray of sunshine that will create Vitamin "W" (inning) in Buffalo.
More to come....
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Your 2018 NCAA Men's College Hockey Tourney bracket, sans Minnesota and North Dakota.
Talk about doomsday scenarios with devasting outcomes. A few powerhouse programs will be sitting home watching on TV the 2018 NCAA Mens Hockey tournament.
For the first time in the history of the 16-team NCAA Mens College Hockey tourney, which began in 2003, all four number four seeds will come from automatic bids of hockey programs that won their conference tournament championship.
Consequently, the University of Minnesota and University of North Dakota eliminated from tourney contention as a result of conference tourney wins Princeton and Boston University in the ECAC and Hockey East tournaments, respectively.
In the wake of the Minnesota Gophers being punted from the NCAA postseason tourney, many questions abound. The one being asked most frequently of me by colleagues and Twitter followers is what now becomes of Casey Mittelstadt? The Golden Gophers coaching staff was not expecting to be knocked out of the NCAA tourney field before today’s Noon EDT selection process. Gophers bench boss Don Lucia has been preparing his Golden Gophers for the opportunity to play in the Frozen Four and possibly a NCAA Mens College Hockey Championship.
What now becomes of Mittelstadt?
There is no doubt in my mind that Mittelstadt and his family advisors are looking at the plausible options right now. One door closed and now another may be opening for him at the Buffalo Sabres organization. Sabres GM Jason Botterill wasted little time selecting Mittelstadt 8th overall at the 2017 NHL Draft. Needing a difference making defenseman at that draft, Botterill instead invested his first ever first round draft choice as an NHL GM in the supremely-skilled, sniping center/winger.
Many Sabres fans are hoping that Botterill will burn the first year of Mittelstadt’s NHL entry level contract now. The kid would certainly add skill depth and dimension to Chris Taylor’s Rochester Americans lineup. The Amerks are battling for an AHL playoff berth and could use an infusion of Mittelstadt’s grotesque, elite level offensive firepower. After watching Mittelstadt score and create in the NCAA and at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, I have no doubts in my mind that he will make a seamless transition to the NHL where he will continue to improve his offensive repertoire even more.
The reality of the situation is that the Minnesota Gophers were not assured a berth in the NCAA tournament. Yesterday, the thought of Mittelstadt and Minnesota being placed on the “see you next year” list for the big dance seemed preposterous.
Today, the shock and awe are just now beginning to set in.
Mittelstadt can pack his bags and play for the Rochester Americans as early as this week.
First and foremost, Botterill meet with Mittestadt, his family and advisors to road map the near-term and long-term goals for the slick winger.
Mittestadt may opt to play another season at Minny. He may opt to turn pro.
Either way, Botterill and the Sabres organization will play a role in that final decision.
Botterill has said on the record recently that the decision to turn pro will rest solely with Mittelstadt. Botterill has made it a point to mention that he had very little contact with Mittelstadt while Team USA was competing at the IIHF World Juniors tourney hosted by the Buffalo Sabres from 12/26/17 to 1/5/18. Botterill's eyes were glued to Mittelstadt the entire tourney, however, the rookie NHL GM opeted to let the kid breathe and enjoy the provcvess of competing for his country rather than clutter his mind with NHL thoughts and scenarios.
Botterill is a savvy hockey man. He himself was an NCAA hockey star at the University of Michigan and he knows the importance of having young players bask in the glory and live in the moment during NCAA and IIHF tournaments. Botterill has given Mittelstadt the time and space that 19 year olds need when performing on the biggest, brightest stages.
Botterill now has Mittelstadt's undivided attention to discuss opportunities with the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Amerks for the first time since proopsect development camp in Buffalo in July 2017.
Whether Mittelstadt decides to remain in college or turn pro, Botterill will support the young man’s decision. If he hasn’t done so already, Botterill will be huddling with his AGMs Steve Greeley and Randy Sexton to discuss next steps. Don’t be surprised when you hear the news of Botterill winging to Minnesota aboard Sabres owner Terry Pegula’s private jet to meet with the Mittelstadt family and their advisor. Regarding Greeley, Elliotte Friedman mentioned Saturday night during the “Headlines” segment on the Hockey Night In Canada broadcast that Greeley recently traveled to Mexico to meet with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tm Dundon to discuss his vacant GM position. Friedman intimated that Greeley, Mike Futa, Paul Fenton, Tom Fitzgerald and other Carolina GM candidates had all walked away from their conversations with Dundon with concerns. Perhaps it’s the reported $400K salary Carolina is offering. Perhaps Dundon is far too hands-on an owner. That’s another story for another day. I make the Greeley point to accentuate his value and worth to Botterill and the Sabres moving forward. Greeley has a solid relationship with Mittelstadt and could be the guy who closes the deal to get the young sniper’s right hand off his hockey stick for thirty seconds so that he can autograph his NHL entry level contract then proceed to the Rochester Amerks where he will continue to develop his skills against professional players.
A caveat for Mittelstadt to consider in his decision-making process is that chatter has already begun inside college hockey that Don Lucia may not be the head coach of the Golden Gophers moving forward. It’s still early in the process to get a gauge on which direction the Minnesota Gophers athletic department will go as it relates to their men hockey coach. We will know more about Lucia and his role moving forward in the weeks to come. Should he be relieved of his head coaching duties, this may influence Mittelstadt and other Gophers under classmen to begin their professional hockey journey sooner than later.
When a college player of Mittelstadt’s unique ability is available to sign a pro contract, you do whatever you ink him and get him on your pro roster, be it in the AHL or NHL. At what cost? If Mittelstadt signs his ELC and plays in AHL Rochester next season, it will only cost Jason Botterill a $70,000 AHL salary, plus $92.5K signing bonus. Terry Pegula has this amount of change in his luxury sedan cigar ashtray. It’s an easy decision for the Sabres. They now must respect the wishes of Mittelstadt as he mulls the pros and cons of staying with the Minnesota experience or leaving now to pursue his NHL dreams in Buffalo-Rochester.
On March 7, the Edina, Minnesota native was chosen as one of three finalists for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award.
Earlier this week, Mittelstadt was recognized for earning All-Big Ten honors as a member of the Big 10 All-Freshman Team.
From Minnesota high school hockey legend to USHL star to NCAA freshman phenom and Team USA junior star, Mittelstadt continues to blaze an impressive path for himself across the rinks of the United States.
Mittelstadt finished his freshman season ranked second among all Gophers in scoring with 30 points (11G, 19A) in 34 games with the Gophers, one-point shy of the team’s scoring lead. He scored 4 PPG and 2 GWG.
Mittelstadt ranks tied for sixth among all NCAA freshmen with 30 points.
The 2017 first round draft choice (8th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres was the MVP of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships tourney played in Buffalo earlier this year. Mittelstadt was one of the engines that drove Team USA to a bronze medal at the WJCs.
Mittelstadt scored four goals and seven assists in seven games for Team USA’s bronze medal winning team.
Mittelstadt finished tied for the most total points scord at the WJC tournament, and also finished as the tournament's best forward and tournament MVP, as selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Mittelstadt has next-level skill and speed. He's the total package of power, precision and power. Having seen him play up close and personal, Buffalo Sabres fans have been salivating at the prospect of Mittelstadt lighting it up on Jack Eichel's wing next season.
Yes. Next season.
I see the kid playing just one season at the University of Minnesota then transitioning to the NHL. There is no doubt that Mittelstadt will provide sunshine on cloudy Buffalo days.
Today, the former "Mr. Hockey" in the State Of Hockey is in hot demand by the Buffalo Sabres.
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