Breaking News: Avalanche Sign Former Eighth-Overall Pick to Three-Year Extension…
The Colorado Avalanche have inked center Casey Mittelstadt to a three-year contract extension, carrying an annual cap hit of $5.75 million, as announced by the team.
Mittelstadt, who had two years left under team control, extends his tenure by one UFA year. He will be 28 at the end of this deal, aligning him to potentially secure a lucrative long-term contract during his prime.
The Minnesota native started the season with the Buffalo Sabres, embarking on his sixth full NHL campaign. Drafted eighth overall in 2017, Mittelstadt’s initial seasons were underwhelming, not exceeding the 30-point mark in his first four years.
However, the 2022-23 season was a breakout for Mittelstadt, who scored 15 goals and 59 points in all 82 games, significantly contributing to the Sabres’ offense, which ranked third in the league. Despite missing the playoffs by one point, it marked a significant progression for Mittelstadt, establishing him as a key player in Buffalo’s lineup alongside Dylan Cozens and Tage Thompson.
The momentum did not carry into the 2023-24 season for Buffalo’s forwards, with injuries and regression affecting key players. Nevertheless, Mittelstadt remained consistent, arguably being Buffalo’s best center. He posted career-best possession metrics and tallied 14 goals and 47 points in 62 games, while averaging a career-high 18:16 per game.
His performance set him up for a substantial pay raise after his three-year, $2.5 million bridge deal signed in 2021. With Cozens and Thompson already on long-term contracts and many prospects in the pipeline, Mittelstadt became expendable, leading to trade rumors.
Colorado capitalized, trading defenseman Bowen Byram for Mittelstadt in a one-for-one deal. This addressed the Avalanche’s need for a reliable second-line center after Nazem Kadri’s departure in 2022. Previous attempts with J.T. Compher, Ross Colton, and Ryan Johansen were insufficient, prompting the trade.
Mittelstadt adapted quickly to his new team, scoring 10 points in 18 games to finish the season. He excelled in the playoffs, with three goals and nine points in 11 games, proving his value as a top-six forward.
Now, Mittelstadt will be a cornerstone for Colorado through the 2026-27 season. His $5.75 million cap hit aligns closely with market expectations, as Evolving Hockey projected a $5.8 million cap hit for a three-year deal.
With this extension, the Avalanche have $10.5 million in projected cap space for a 15-player roster, according to CapFriendly. This includes the cap hit for injured captain Gabriel Landeskog, expected to return next year after knee surgeries, but excludes Valeri Nichushkin’s $6.125 million cap hit as he starts the season on the non-roster list due to a suspension. Colorado still has several notable UFAs, including Jonathan Drouin, Yakov Trenin, and Sean Walker.
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