The Buffalo rookie is making a contribution even if it’s not showing up on the score sheet.
By Ben Mathewson / Diebytheblade.com
A lackluster preseason and relatively quiet start which has lacked the flashiness fans may have been hoping for, there’s been some murmuring within the fanbase of initial disappointment with the way Mittelstadt has looked to begin the 2018-19 season.
Despite the ridiculousness of that frustration with a 19-year-old 8 games into his NHL career, I decided to watch each of his shifts against the Rangers to see if there was any actual cause for concern.
Spoiler Alert: There isn’t.
To begin his night Mittelstadt showcases his puck possession skills and slides a clean pass to the slot where Zemgus Girgensons is able to get a quick shot off. Simply put, goals are scored in the slot area from the hash marks in, so having a center that can regularly get pucks into that area for his teammates is one of the most important skill sets for a center to have.
Mittelstadt is known best for his offensive prowess, but what stood out to me most during this game was his strong defensive play.
Of his 17 shifts against the Rangers, Mittelstadt did something of significance in all but 3 or 4 shifts, and made only 1 serious mistake that could’ve led to a goal against. You’ll take that every night from a rookie.
What he’s lacked in flash, he’s made up for in solid fundamentals and superb vision offensively and defensively, causing turnovers and creating opportunities for himself and his teammates in high danger areas. Once he fully adjusts to the NHL game, Casey Mittelstadt should be a serious force for the Sabres in both the offensive and defensive zone.