Great news out of Toronto where the Sabres and Leafs will foil up and do battle tonight.
TSNs Bob McKenzie is sporting Casey Mittelstadt has agreed to terms on an entry-level deal with Buffalo and is expected to join the Sabres’ NHL roster later this week. He will play against Detroit on Thursday in front of his loyal Buffalo fans.
Mittelstadt will not be qualified to play for the Rochester Amerks in the AHL playoff push for the 2018 Calder Cup.
#Mittelstud
Sabres management and ownership clearly have no issue with buring the first year of Mittelstadt’s entry level contract.
Mittelstadt was born in November 1998. He will not get to count the 2017-18 season as a professional year. Therefore, Mittelstadt will not need to be protected for the NHL team in Seattle expansion draft when it occurs.
Mittelstadt is expected to sign his contract Tuesday and join The Buffalo roster ASAP.
Mittelstadt play for the Sabres as early as Thursday and finish balance of regular season with the Sabres.
Team USA GM Bill Zito may also ask Mittelstadt to play for Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in Denmark in May.
Imagine a power trio of Mittelstadt-Eichel-PKane at the Worlds!
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.
That is exactly want sabres GM Jason Botterill has done. Mittelstadt will be in Buffalo Tuesday to sign his ELC and the join his new teammates. On Sunday, Botterill signed two prospects in Will Borgen and Judd Peterson to amateur tryout contracts.
Jason Botterill current mood after blasting three tape measure bombs in past 20 hours #Borgen #Peterson #Mittelstadt #Sabres #Amerks pic.twitter.com/qXWlpOY5m4
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 26, 2018
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.
Three #Gophers have earned All-Big Ten honors as Casey Mittelstadt brings home All-Freshman Team accolades while Tyler Sheehy and Ryan Lindgren earn Honorable Mention. pic.twitter.com/BqbFdp93oR
— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 13, 2018
#Gophers rookie forward Casey Mittelstadt has been named one of three finalists for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. pic.twitter.com/3TMmCW4d3t
— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 7, 2018
Casey's third PPG of the weekend has the #Gophers within one. pic.twitter.com/BxqI6yX9Z9
— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 4, 2018
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, all world 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.
Sabres fans will get a preview of the coming attractions of Mittelstadt and Eichel this week.