For Mittelstadt, joining the Sabres is the next step of a lifelong dream

For as long as he can remember, Casey Mittelstadt has had a three-step plan for his life. He wanted to play high school hockey in Eden Prairie, Minn., and play collegiately at the University of Minnesota. The final - and most ambitious - step was to play in the NHL.
Mittelstadt spent three seasons at Eden Prairie High, where he won the Mr. Hockey Award as Minnesota's top high school player. He crossed off playing for the Gophers this season, donning the uniform of the team he grew up watching with his father, Tom.

On Tuesday, Mittelstadt came one step closer to crossing off the final item off his list when he officially signed his entry-level, three-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He'll join the team for practice on Wednesday and, if all goes according to plan, will make his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center on Thursday.
"I've definitely lived a pretty perfect life to this point," Mittelstadt said. "I'm pretty lucky. My parents were really good growing up, they supported me through everything, gave me a lot of opportunities I couldn't imagine.
"… It's an exciting time for me and my family. We're definitely looking forward to it."

Mittelstadt's career at the University of Minnesota ended abruptly earlier this month when a combination of six different outcomes kept the Gophers out of the NCAA Tournament. Having dreamt of wearing the Gophers' signature 'M' all his life, he needed to take time before deciding his future.
Purchase tickets for Thursday | READ: Botterill discusses Mittelstadt, Borgen | READ: Players react to signing | READ: Mittelstadt's path to the Draft
He took a few days to say goodbye to the seniors on the team and be with his teammates. Eventually, conversations with the Sabres began.
"We wanted it to be more of a partnership rather than us two kind of clashing, going at it," he said. "We wanted to figure out what was best for me. We kind of went through it and agreed on pretty much everything there. So, it went pretty quick, pretty smoothly and obviously I'm definitely excited to be a Buffalo Sabre."
Mittelstadt admits he was a fan of the Minnesota Wild growing up and thus didn't spend his time keeping track of the Sabres. He exhibited an understanding of the team's current situation, however, while speaking to the media on Tuesday.

He certainly got his fair share of Buffalo over the past year, beginning when he came to town for the NHL Scouting Combine last June. He was there when Sabres fans packed HarborCenter for development camp in July and when a record-setting crowd of 44,592 packed New Era Field at the World Junior Championship in December.
He also knows that he'll be counted on as part of a young core tasked with turning the Sabres around.
"I was able to see how nice the fans are and how really dedicated they are to the team," he said. "I think I can feel the struggle a little bit. Obviously, there's a big emphasis being put on the young guys to kind of turn it around here and I think there's a really good young core. Rochester's doing really well and it's definitely exciting."
Mittelstadt met the face of that young core on Tuesday. Jack Eichel welcomed him to the fold by treating him to lunch, a significant gesture.
"It's definitely something pretty cool for a kid like me," Mittelstadt said. "I think obviously, being a hockey player, you know who Jack Eichel is. Getting to know him and having him welcome you like that, it's something really special for me. I think it's good to know that he's excited I'm here and that he's interested in getting to know me."
They'll get to know each other on the ice over the next two weeks, as Mittelstadt gets his first taste of life in the NHL.
"I'm going to try to approach it like any other game," he said. "I'm one who likes routines, you can call them superstitions, whatever. I guess I like my routines and I'm going to try to stick to them. They've gotten me to this point.
"And obviously coming to pro these [six] games will help me out, maybe give me some new routines, things I need to do better before games, just things like that. That's why I'm here. I'm here to learn and I'm here to get ready for next season."