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

[Dreakon13]

I'm surprised we went forward, center specifically... especially with defense still on the board. Makes me think (hope) Botts has something planned in the "forward<->defense trade" realm of things.

Dunno much about the pick himself. Clips looked nice.

 

[CowbellConray]

A lot of poor reaction. I'm confused. Kid is speedy and doesn't have a ceiling. Guy wasn't in nhl shape and put together a great year.

Love the boom bust factor. That's the type of player to take in this draft. Safe players in this draft turn into average nhlers

 

[Sabre Dance]

Vilardi, and maybe Tippett, were better options. Frustrating to pass on Valardi who was ranked 3rd in THN and 4th in RedLine.

This guy is ranked right up there. Big difference between the two is speed.

 

[7 11 14]

I was open to anyone as long as our scouting staff thought it was he best player for our franchise going forward. I'm fine with the pick! No reason not to be. The argument could've been made for a defenseman but no matter what defenseman we picked it would've probably been a reach. And, we aren't really deep at any position. I would've preferred trying to trade back if anything.

 

[cramdizzl]

BPA, not surprising. If they tried to trade the pick and could not, then it's a good pick imo. No defensemen that are still available will fit what they're trying to accomplish in the next few years, while Middlestadt will likely remain a very tradeable asset for a few years.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

Let's calm down with the college UFA talk he's not spending four years in college

 

[Dirty Dog]

I like it. I'm a fan of BPA over needs in sports like hockey and baseball. By time he is ready to play, our defense needs to be figured out anyways so it's a moot point

 

[Woodhouse]

Speed and highly skilled, what's not to like? He'll get into the gym at Minnesota.

 

[Husko]

Eh, not what I would have done, but they must like the kid. We'll see how it pans out.

 

[Ace]

I had Vilardi ahead of Mittelstadt but I understand why they'd like Mittlestadt more. Just happy we didn't try to force something that wasn't there.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

Fast and highly skilled, what's not to like?

I'd have preferred Liljegren but happy Mittelstadt dropped to us, Vilardi is a plodding forward, we need to get faster.

 

[EichelsJockStrap]

would have rather had Tippet. Dont like the pick hurley v2?

 

[Cirris]

I did like Pierre Mcguire's take on his combine flop. The kid comes off as an rink rat, not a gym rat. If Sabres strength and conditioning team can work with him, and he adds strength/mass to his slick handling and skating, he could be a really nice NHL forward. But the trick is whether he's willing to put in the gym work to compliment his love of the rink.

But yeah, if you haven't noticed, Botteril is speed first type of guy. So Vilardi was never an option for him. And that mindset should help you predict who the Sabres choose going forward for the next few years.

 

[Chainshot]

Draft Analyst write up:

Scouting Report
No draft-eligible player exemplifies infectious leadership the way this Minnesota-reared super scorer does, and there’s a strong chance Mittelstadt will end up within a select group of prospects to challenge Nolan Patrick for the top slot. Size, speed, grace, vision, power and enthusiasm are just a few words one throws around when dissecting his game, and it will be on display for the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2017. Mittelstadt is a money player with a deadly shot, using his size and lower body strength to step into it with NHL-level velocity. He can also make flashy plays and use a dizzying array of puck skills to turn defenders inside-out before threading the needle with a crisp pass. Mittelstadt can play both center and wing, but he exploits his acute sense for finding and acquiring pucks from either position. He led the USHL in scoring as a rookie before returning to high school, where his bid to lead Eden Prairie to a state AA title fell just short.

 

[Dirty Dog]

And like others are hinting at, with concerns about the gym and working out, him going to UMN is great news

 

[Ace]

Speed and highly skilled, what's not to like? He'll get into the gym at Minnesota.

I said it when he had his combine results in his prospect thread....if I'm an NHL team looking at how smart, skilled and fast he is now...wait until I teach him how to work out properly and strengthen his core.

 

[Chainshot]

I did like Pierre Mcguire's take on his combine flop. The kid comes off as an rink rat, not a gym rat. If Sabres strength and conditioning team can work with him, and he adds strength/mass to his slick handling and skating, he could be a really nice NHL forward. But the trick is whether he's willing to put in the gym work to compliment his love of the rink.

Minny's S&C guys will get ahold of him -- he'll be working with his teammates because he enjoys being with his teammates and they will be at the gym.

 

[BloFan4Life]

So he plays for his hometown college in Minnesota then can graduate and sign with them?

 

[Samsonite23]

I like him. I just don't like not drafting one of the dmen. I'm honestly pretty excited to see him in a Sabres uni. He's gonna be fun to watch.

 

[Crazy Tasty]

High end skill, yup. Thanks JB.

 

[truthbluth]

Tuning out. Super disappointed.

 

[aceface33]

Soo... we just lost a player due to the college clause in the CBA, so lets take a player going to college. WTF? I thought we'd go Valimaki or Vilardi. I'm pretty unimpressed with Botts at this point

This is not an issue with top picks. As I understand it, the drafting team retains the players rights for 4 years and after that they can become a UFA. For example, Petersen was drafted in 2013, can become a UFA this year. For top picks like Mittlestadt, the chances they stay in college for 4 years is slim. They want to come out, get paid, start the clock counting towards RFA/UFA for the big money.

 

[Crazy Tasty]

So he plays for his hometown college in Minnesota then can graduate and sign with them?

Chill the **** out. He'll be signed in a year or two.

 

[The Spaz]

Sam Reinhart light. Another slowish crafty centre? Not what we needed at all. 4 years to be UFA?

Not sure WTH you are watching.

 

[Sabre Dance]

So he plays for his hometown college in Minnesota then can graduate and sign with them?

Just like Fasching.