Casey Mittelstadt

Casey Mittelstadt (born November 22, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a center for the Boston Bruins 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.

Playing career

Amateur Mittelstadt was born in Edina, Minnesota, but grew up in nearby Eden Prairie. He attended Eden Prairie High School and was chosen as ALL-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. He was likewise named Mr. Hockey, the best high school senior hockey player in the state of Minnesota, for 2017. He was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL entry draft.

Collegiate

Having committed to a collegiate career, Mittelstadt played as a freshman forward during the 2017–18 season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). After ranking second on the team, and seventh among all NCAA freshmen with 30 points, Mittelstadt was named to 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 ultimately going to Lewandowski.

Professional Buffalo Sabres Mittelstadt going after the puck in a game against the Seattle Kraken in 2022. On March 26, 2018, Mittelstadt opted to leave the college ranks 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 American Hockey League (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' AHL affiliate, on December 15, 2019.

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

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

In the final year of his contract with the Sabres in the 2023–24 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 center 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 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.

Boston Bruins On March 7, 2025, Mittelstadt along with Will Zellers and the Carolina Hurricanes' second-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft were traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Charlie Coyle and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Playing a larger role on a struggling Bruins team, Mittelstadt immediately found the score sheet as a Bruin, scoring an assist in his first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 8. He would follow up with three points in his first three games as a Bruin, including his first goal in the Black and Gold on March 13 against the Ottawa Senators. Mittelstadt would finish the season with 15 goals and 25 assists in 81 games split between the Avalanche and Bruins.

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.

Personal life

Mittelstadt has two younger brothers, John and Luke, who both play collegiately for the University of Minnesota of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with the latter being a seventh round selection of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL entry draft.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2016 United States WJC18 7 4 5 9 2 2016 United States IH18 4 3 4 7 4 2018 United States WJC 7 4 7 11 2 Junior totals 18 11 16 27 8

Awards and honors Award Year RefCollege All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2018 International World Juniors Most Valuable Player 2018 World Juniors Best Forward 2018 World Juniors All-Star team 2018