Mittlestadt is not Eichel and we don't need him to be. There is no need to slot him in the lineup next year. Let him grow and mature. Let him continue to get stronger. Let him adjust to playing on a team that isn't the most talented at the college level instead of the pros. Turning pro early has not helped Nylander, no need to see another talented player struggle like that. Slow cook him for another year in college and let him come into the league a more polished player with (fingers crossed) more talent around him in Buffalo.
Confirmed with Link: Casey Mittelstadt (2017, 8th) - Signed, #37
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All we need to look at is the last physically weakish 18yo we placed in the AHL to know that probably isn't such a good idea.
Ethan Edwards
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I certainly appreciate the confidence in my opinion! It's a nice compliment, though I don't think I have too much to add here other than general agreement. Eichel coming in was a recognized physical freak, I agree. That's what was so intriguing to me at that time, seeing how he'd perform with those skills at BU. I had regular conversations about him with a friend of mine--BU grad, former player, still with team connections. The only question was, would he elevate the team as a one-and-done Freshman. The name Paul Kariya was mentioned even before BU's first game after what Paul did in his Freshman year. Two different players/styles, of course, but similarly lofty expectations. So yeah, one thing adding to the intrigue was otherwise pedestrian expectations of the roster. I don't recall a senior-laden team that year. So what he did under those circumstances, while not quite Kariya-like, was pretty remarkable. It's why I was pretty emphatic with my opinion of his talent on this board during the whole McEichel saga.
So distinguishing that from what Casey is currently bringing to the table is wholly appropriate. The talent is there for Mittelstadt, but he does have things to work on. Chainshot has done a nice job highlighting some of the good with the bad. Someone mentioned learning to elevate his teammates. That's true, but it's also true that he plays on a team that is far removed from some of the highly talented teams Minny has fielded. The two concepts aren't mutually exclusive, but you do have to temper numeric expectations with shots of reality. So he doesn't have that Eichel/Kariya level to almost single-handedly elevate his team to greatness, but he also doesn't have a lot of help as in some of the other examples. Heck, Eichel played with some guys who could positively finish in all-Hockey East fashion.
Bottom line is, he's not at that level in terms of his overall game, so more development is needed (not unexpected and not a problem), but one thing is crystal clear, regardless of his Minny numbers. He's supremely talented, about as talented as anyone in his draft class. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens this summer. I've gone back and forth on what I think will happen, which isn't always in tune with what I think should happen. Tough call, but I still firmly believe that in ~5 years time there will be 5 teams who will genuinely regret having let him slip past them on draft day.
Oh, and when I first stumbled across this quoted post, I thought you were asking me about Paul Kariya. I was indeed lacing them up at the time, but I never had the pleasure of playing Maine. A buddy of mine who played at Clarkson did have the pleasure, though he described it more like pain. Some of the "colorful metaphors" used to describe that level of speed and quickness aren't fit for posting on a family site. I did get to meet Paul in Tustin, CA about 15 years ago or so. Class act.
TLDR: Casey is no Eichel, but that's okay and the optimism is warranted--he's still supremely skilled and will be a great player in this league.
dotcommunism
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I'm not saying the AHL is necessarily the best place for him this year, but this is a weird comparison since he will be at a perfectly normal age for guys to start there. Like, if he were your regular player drafted out of the CHL, he'd be AHL eligible next season.
The decision from management should be determined largely on how he develops physically.
If he comes into prospect camp matured and physically developed to a point that is reasonable, I would rather have him with pros, both coaching and free of school distractions.
On the other hand if he is even 5% short of the kind of body work he needs to do, right back to the U for lifts and a year of dominance.
This is really a player by player thing, and not a blanket thing I hope. You can't NOT send your talented 18 year old players to the AHL because one of your draft picks didn't make huge gains in his first two years. At what point is it on the player? I don't believe that we SHOULDN'T send Casey to the AHL just because Nylander couldn't do it.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
He's in the perfect place for him to continue developing next year. I don't see the benefit of rushing things.
I don't know, I think there's something to be said for learning lessons about proper slow-cooking. Everyone is correct that Casey isn't the same player as Nylander, he would be older and more seasoned by the Fall '18 season but that still doesn't mean he's physically or mentally ready for pro hockey against guys in their late 20's and 30's who've been playing a fast pro game for years. Proper slow-cooking would see the team encouraging him to stay in school for at least another year, dominate against his peers, continue getting stronger and more experienced and then compete for an NHL spot in 2019.
I'm not trying to argue at all, but what makes you think that keeping him in college is proper slow cooking? Each player is unique, and Casey may be much more ready for the AHL than say Nylander, and he might not get much out of college at all next year. Is there evidence that suggests players staying in college past their freshman year is substantially more beneficial to the player? I'm curious. If they aren't college players, is there a magic age to have them in the AHL?
sabremike
#1 Tageaholic
The problem here is that Sabres fans have been the ones who've been slow cooked for the past decade so hearing "wait 3 more years for a guy to develope" doesn't go down well even if that's the correct call.
I don't think there's a magic age that makes a player ready for AHL hockey, but I do think a player should be demonstrably "too good" for a lesser league before a team attempts to move them up a level. I think Casey is an exceptional hockey player, but I do not think he's demonstrably "too good" to still be playing in the NCAA. If he was setting the league on fire the way Eichel did, and the way players like Toews did before him...then a single season of NCAA hockey is perfectly sufficient before moving up. I feel like Casey still has a lot to learn about playing hockey against his peers before he starts trying to play with faster, tougher and more skilled players in the pros.
I'm still interested in seeing his game grow on an everyday basis against his immediate peer group rather than getting a bunch of reps at the AHL level. I'm also interested in seeing him getting the sort of gym time NCAA play affords him. This isn't about the pullups, it's about what being able to lift for strength gain rather than maintenance at Minny vs. Rochester. If he signs, fine... if not... I'm good with it too.
Gabrielor
Registered User
When's the last time a prospect with his kind of hype played the second year of college? Don't read this with a snobby tone, that's not the way it's being asked.
Is Minnesota looking good for next year? I’d like to see him playing with more talent up front if he returns...
I also wouldn't mind another year at UMN. Whether turning pro would be a potentially a better option, having him in that program another year just isn't a bad option. Then let him turn pro and make his way to the NHL whenever he forces the issue.
But I would still bet he turns pro after the season, I would be surprised otherwise.
But I would still bet he turns pro after the season, I would be surprised otherwise.
joshjull
Registered User
Boeser was more hyped as a freshman.... he put up amazing numbers (42gms 27g 33a 60pts) on a national championship team at North Dakota in his draft +1 season. Then returned the next year.
Some of their former commits like Fallstrom aren't any longer and they've brought some guys in like Phillips and Rossini earlier. Jaxon Nelson and Blake McLaughlin are supposed to be useful. So too Samuel Walker who's in that sort of Weissbach midget puck wiz category. I'm not sure if they're going to be better since I think a chunk of their issue is they haven't found a replacement for Bischoff or going further back even Brodzinski. The d-core is really lunchpail in nature, reminds me of the Bruins non-Borque lineups from the '80's.
joshjull
Registered User
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I don’t see the need to rush him to Rochester next year. Casey is already playing in a men’s league with 18-24 year olds. He’s doing well against men. It’s not like he’s playing in juniors dominating 16 year old kids.
It’s not fair to bring him into camp to “see how he grew”. He either needs to be prepping for school or trying to make the roster.
Outside wanting to see him in Rochester (with the possibility of a call up) there’s no real reason to sign him to an elc yet.
It’s not fair to bring him into camp to “see how he grew”. He either needs to be prepping for school or trying to make the roster.
Outside wanting to see him in Rochester (with the possibility of a call up) there’s no real reason to sign him to an elc yet.
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