Casey Mittelstadt

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Lore & Background

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 for 2017. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the 2017–18 season, ranking second on the team and seventh among all NCAA freshmen with 30 points, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He left college on March 26, 2018, signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut on March 29, 2018, recording an assist, and scored his first NHL goal on April 6, 2018. After struggling in the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, he was assigned to the Rochester Americans on December 15, 2019. He signed a one-year contract on December 23, 2020, and a three-year, $7.5 million contract on September 2, 2021. In the 2023–24 season, he led the Sabres in scoring with 33 assists and 47 points through 62 games. On March 6, 2024, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram. He made his Avalanche debut on March 8, 2024, and scored his first goal for the team on March 12, 2024. He finished the regular season with 10 points in 18 games. In the 2024 playoffs, he made his postseason debut and scored his first playoff goal on April 21, 2024, registering 9 points in 11 games. He was re-signed by Colorado to a three-year, $17.25 million contract on June 26, 2024. On March 7, 2025, he was traded to the Boston Bruins along with Will Zellers and a second-round pick in exchange for Charlie Coyle and a fifth-round pick. He finished the season with 15 goals and 25 assists in 81 games split between the Avalanche and Bruins. Internationally, he played for the United States junior team at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning bronze with a tournament-high 11 points, and was named Best Forward, tournament all-star, and Tournament MVP.

In Their Own Story

The turning point of Mittelstadt's early career came when he struggled to start the 2019–20 season, leading to his first assignment to the Rochester Americans on December 15, 2019. However, by the 2023–24 season, he had rebounded significantly as the Sabres' top-line two-way center. Through 62 regular-season games, he led Buffalo with 33 assists and 47 points. His trajectory shifted dramatically on March 6, 2024, when his seven-year tenure in Buffalo ended via a trade to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Bowen Byram. He debuted for Colorado two days later in a 2–1 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild and scored his first goal for the team on March 12 against the Calgary Flames. Mittelstadt qualified for his first Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring his debut playoff goal in a 7–6 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets on April 21, 2024. He finished those playoffs with nine points, all at even strength.

Reader's Guide

Casey Mittelstadt is a center for the Boston Bruins. He was drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2017. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers before turning professional in 2018. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2024, in exchange for Bowen Byram. He was later traded to the Boston Bruins on March 7, 2025.

Did You Know?

• Mittelstadt was named ALL-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.
• He was named Mr. Hockey as the best high school senior hockey player in Minnesota in 2017.
• He led the 2018 World Junior Championships in scoring with 11 points and was named Tournament MVP.
• He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram on March 6, 2024.