Casey Mittelstadt Re-Signs in Colorado

The Colorado Avalanche announced Tuesday that they have signed former Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt to a three-year deal. The contract reportedly holds an average annual value of $5.75 million. The Avalanche acquired Mittelstadt in a swap for defenseman Bowen Byram two days before the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

Mittelstadt was Buffalo’s leading scorer at the time of the trade, with 47 points in 62 games. He then recorded 10 points in 18 games for the Avalanche, assuming the center spot on the team’s second line. He had nine points in 11 games in the playoffs, scoring in some key moments.

Colorado signed Mittelstadt with the future in mind, parting with a highly-drafted, 22-year-old defenseman to fill the lineup void. They have made him the third-highest-paid forward against the cap, behind superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. If you include injured captain Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin, who is in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program, he’s the Avs’ fifth-highest-paid forward overall.

Must Read: Why the Sabres Are Winning the Mittelstadt Trade

A three-year contract sets Mittelstadt up to hit free agency at age 28, a prime age for another big deal. If he can solidify Colorado’s top six, he’ll position himself for another nice raise.

General Manager Chris McFarland had this to say about Mittelstadt:

“Casey was a great fit for our lineup and a big contributor to our team down the stretch and in the playoffs. His game has improved every season and he took yet another big jump this past year.  We believe he has an even higher level to reach and it was important to get him signed for several years.  Casey is an exciting, playmaking center with good vision and hands and at just 25 years old is going to be a big part of our team moving forward.”

This was the second move in as many days involving prominent former Sabres players, as goaltender Linus Ullmark was traded by the Boston Bruins to the Ottawa Senators minutes before Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday.

For the Avalanche perspective, here’s the story from Colorado Hockey Now.