Confirmed with Link: Casey Mittelstadt (2017, 8th) - Signed, #37

[OkimLom]

A few fans on here very dissapointed etc. about the pick. Also highly unlikely that he goes awol and signs as a UFA. He is a really good hockey player.

Thanks for clarifying and I do agree.

 

[DJN21]

Our fanbase is silly. One 5th round pick chooses not to sign with the team so they think that every NCAA player will follow suit.

2 if you count on trading for and courting vesey...people don't forget that easily Around here...

 

[keppel146]

Lot of misconceptions here.

-while it's true that MN HS isn't the strongest league, he does play in the strongest conference, against good, well coached teams.

- has a really good wrister with a quick release.

- excllent, quick passer.

Anyway, good luck with CM. No pick is a sure thing, but he certainly has the potential to be special. I just question whether or not he will get any playing time with the logjam he has ahead of him at C, and I don't get picking a C and converting him to wing. I don't see him as a good nose to the glass, forechecking winger that will battle it out around the crease. He is about skill.

This right here is so true. Even though HS, he's playing with a lot of other top schools and against other kids going D1. If they had a weak schedule he probably would have gone USHL or elsewhere, b/c he would have put up 100-150 points on the year. I'm very interested in Gopher hockey next year b/c of him (even though Bulldogs>Gophers).

 

[Paxon]

2 if you count on trading for and courting vesey...people don't forget that easily Around here...

It shouldn't count. It was a hail mary at another team's college prospect who was already committed to going to free agency.

 

[dasaybz]

It says hes a LW/C on multiple prospect reporting sites and he said he can play the wing... I don't see why you cant understand this?

When did I ever say I didn't understand it.

 

[Chainshot]

Just a little tidbit from Steve Kournianos in the Mittelstadt thread on the Prospect Board:

Immature is getting into trouble off the ice, puck hogging, acting entitled, warring with coaches and teammates, being rude or cocky in front of others.

Patrik Laine flipped his coach the bird.

There is nothing "immature" about spending half a season in HS for the sole reason of winning a title. He didnt blow off the USHL. He honored his commitment to the Gamblers and single-handely carried them to within a point of the playoffs. All he does is acknowledge his teammates, even if he's clearly the guy carrying his team.

Every coach he's had speaks glowingly of his leadership, selflessness and his tireless work towards being a better hockey player.

Calling Mittelstadt "immature" is a knee jerk reaction to the pull-up nonsense. Nobody ever questioned it before. Just straw clutching in the boring pre-draft month when there isnt hockey to be played.

Mittelstadt is a gamer. Plays hurt, tired. You get the same effort every shift. Doesnt sound like an "immature" kid to me.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

If Mittelstadt doesn't come in this weekend and lead his team to the 3vs3 title then he was a reach at #8. Anything less then a hat trick in each game will be a massive disappointment.






I'm excited to see what the kid does this weekend. I'm expecting him to show off some slick moves but also have a few deficiencies that show which will be remedied with some time with the Gophers. The more time passes the more excited about the pick. Not going to lie I wanted Vilardi or Tippett at #8 but a lot of that was due to the development route. Not that I thought he would be a UFA in 4 years but that maybe he would enjoy college and stay 3 years before turning pro. At this point I think he will likely just play the one year in college like several of the most recent first rounders who went the college route, turn pro after 1- 2 years tops and then go into the American hockey league and start to wow people.

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[LaxSabre]

@ByMHarrington - Mittelstadt showing good hands in battle drills as u would expect of top-10 pick. Crowd liked how he just roofed one past Johansson. #Sabres
@JourdonLaBarber - Hudson Fasching is rooming with Casey Mittelstadt. Fasching played his college hockey @ Minnesota, which Mittelstadt will attend next season.
@JoeYerdon - Hudson Fasching said he was excited to have another Gopher in the fold in Mittelstadt. The two are roommates at #Sabres dev camp.

@JoeYerdon - Casey Mittelstadt said he didn’t think his hands were back yet today (he takes pride in them). Could’ve fooled us. #SickMitts

 

[Ace]

A different angle on the one on one goal and a two on one drill with Weissbach

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Considering he is no where near NHL caliber "shape" seeing how well he skates already has to make Sabre fans excited. Just imagine a full year at a top NCAA program in a state of the art gym with some of the best trainers/fitness coaches available in the country...can't wait to see him in 2-3 years.

 

[EichHart]

I'm in a harborcenter league and get to play on that ice tonight. Casey in a few strides is about 5 times faster than me at full speed. It's incredible just how talented NHL caliber players are. That guy is extremely explosive. The most important skill in the current NHL is skating ability. It's so exciting that Botts is trending away from that slow/big LA model that Murray wanted to implement.

 

[old kummelweck]

little known fact, mittlestadt was a huge Gratton fan.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

[NHL2]c-52407603[/NHL2]

 

[Chainshot]

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

I like how he wants to put every defender/goalie on a highlight reel. Kid might already be one of the better short-area stickhandlers in the organization.

 

[Thorton02]

little known fact, mittlestadt was a huge Gratton fan.

Really? I loved Gratton when he was here. Hope he keeps 77. Always thought that was a cool number.

 

[LaxSabre]

Watch the hands. You have certain expectations when you see top-10 draft picks for the first time. Casey Mittelstadt has had that pizazz the last two days at Sabres development camp.
He's got the quick jets in his skates and the shifty moves with the puck. There are a lot of drills being thrown at the prospects, many of whom are seeing life in a pro camp for the first time.
Mittelstadt, taken eighth overall last month in Chicago, is certainly getting a ton of attention from the fans who have poured into HarborCenter to take a look at the Minnesota high school star.
"It's July. There's a little bit of rust," Mittelstadt said during one break in the action. "One of the best parts of my game are my hands. When those are a little rusty, I'm a little off."

There are some simple hockey drills being applied in this camp but several wrinkles thrown in as well. There are obstacles around the ice.
Mini nets in use as pseudo defenseman or a passing boomerang. Quickness and speed are tested. Stickhandling and passing skills are quickly noticeable.
Mittelstadt has looked strong in those areas, just as you would imagine. But like said, it's July hockey. This is only a glimpse of what he has.
"To be honest, I think for me the hands are the last thing to come back," he said. "I've been skating back home so that helps.
Especially wanting to come to camp not too rusty. The hands are the most important part of my game. When they come back is when I think I'm playing well."

Mittelstadt's instincts in tight spaces have been obvious thus far, so it will be interesting to watch him with room to work during Tuesday's 3-on-3 tournament that will close camp.
"One thing they want to do here is play with some pace," he said. "I love to do that. Get out there and get the wheels going.
If you're competitive enough, there's always something you want to prove. I've always got a littlle bit of a chip on my shoulder.
It's important to come out, be comfortable, play your game and try to be yourself. It's important to not do anything you can't do or that's out of your zone."

Rest Of The Article - http://buffalonews.com/2017/07/09/top-pick-lots-eyes-mittelstadts-mitts/

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[sabrebuild]

Something about this pick feels lucky. I like that he physically is underdeveloped but still a really good skater. Feels a little Phil kessel.

If he and nylander pan out, that's a pretty monster top 9

 

[DJN21]

Something about this pick feels lucky. I like that he physically is underdeveloped but still a really good skater. Feels a little Phil kessel.

If he and nylander pan out, that's a pretty monster top 9

I'm not a huge fan of either and would gladly exchange at least one of them for a similar level dman

But...I'll admit a top 6 of eichel, ror, reinhart,okposo, mid, and Nylander is exciting.

 

[sabrebuild]

I'm not a huge fan of either and would gladly exchange at least one of them for a similar level dman

But...I'll admit a top 6 of eichel, ror, reinhart,okposo, mid, and Nylander is exciting.

Agreed d would have been nice, but live with what you got.

Not a lot of teams match up with,

Girgs Eichel baptiste
Middlestadt ROR Okposo
Nylander Reinhart Fasching
Pu Larson Asplund

 

[DJN21]

Agreed d would have been nice, but live with what you got.

Not a lot of teams match up with,

Girgs Eichel baptiste
Middlestadt ROR Okposo
Nylander Reinhart Fasching
Pu Larson Asplund

Still a ton of bust potential in that lineup. But in theory I agree.

I'd feel better with Chychrun/sergechev and middlestadt if I'm nitpicking...

 

[sabrebuild]

Still a ton of bust potential in that lineup. But in theory I agree.

I'd feel better with Chychrun/sergechev and middlestadt if I'm nitpicking...

I don't see much bust type players in that chart. And again I would like the d to have been taken. But that is a lot of talent in your top 12 even assuming guys like bailey, Malone, pu or asplund bust.