The Buffalo Sabres re-sign restricted free agent forward Casey Mittelstadt to a three-year contract. The deal is worth $7.5 million or $2.5 million AAV. It will carry him through the 2023-24 season.
Mitts is back! 🙌
We have re-signed forward Casey Mittelstadt to three-year contract with an AAV of $2.5 million.
Details: https://t.co/rkpGTzfsrg pic.twitter.com/FLHTU2Wmrg
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) September 2, 2021
Sabres Finally Re-Sign Mittelstadt
Buffalo fans have had a quite slow off-season to talk about. With Jack Eichel being the centre of their questions, many forget that a few players were needing contracts. One of them was Mittelstadt. The 22-year-old player was one of their best players by the end of the 2020-21 season and needed a contract to keep shining. Of course, there were barely any doubts that Mittelstadt would re-sign but with Buffalo, no one ever knows. However, their general manager, Kevyn Adams, had said he wanted to start building the team around his youngster – and Mittelstadt was surely on the list. The good news is that he’s back and ready to go.
Throughout his four-year NHL career, the centreman has scored 27 goals and 61 points in 155 games. During the 2020-21 season, Mittelstadt scored 10 goals and 22 points in 41 games. It might not seem much when you look at it but he was playing under Ralph Krueger for most of those games. And Buffalo was in a very dark place last season. After head coach Don Granato took over, he was leading the team in assists and second in points. His game and confidence took a great turn and he started playing a lot better.
What This Means For The Future
Signing Mittelstadt is an important step for the Sabres when it comes to their scoring players. Losing Sam Reinhart and probably Eichel in the same off-season will hurt their offence, locking Mittelstadt down was the top priority. Having a young team will not take them to the playoffs yet. However, it is important to have their younger players locked in for the next seasons for them to build their team in a way that the playoffs are not just a distant dream anymore.
Main Photo:
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 25: Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (37) skates with the puck during the NHL game between the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning on November 25, 2019 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
