Mittelstadt made strong impression on current Sabres during the summer

TORONTO - Kyle Okposo got his first look at Casey Mittelstadt during the summer, when the two skated together in their hometown of St. Paul, Minn. They were opponents in Da Beauty League, a summer league featuring a mix of established NHL players as well as up-and-comers.
Da Beauty League, however, is played at four-on-four. What really impressed Okposo were the five-on-five skates that both he and Mittelstadt took part in every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at various rinks in Minnesota.
"That's the highest pace that I've played in the summer and he was really impressive there," Okposo said. "I had guys on the bench saying how special of a player he was and how special his mind was for the game."

Mittelstadt signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Sabres on Monday morning, just as the team was wrapping up its morning skate at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Phil Housley said that Mittelstadt is expected to join the team by Tuesday and he would like to see the young forward in the lineup as soon as possible.
Buffalo next plays at home on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Mittelstadt is the second prospect to sign his entry-level deal in less than 24 hours. Defenseman Will Borgen signed his deal on Sunday and will report to Rochester on an amateur tryout.
READ: Mittelstadt's journey from high school to the Draft
While Okposo got an up-close look at Mittelstadt during the summer, the forward captured the attention of the entire hockey world at the World Junior Championship in Buffalo this past January. Mittelstadt scored 11 points (4+7) in seven games en route to being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Housley got to see Mittelstadt at Buffalo's development camp in July and came away impressed.

"He's got a unique (thing) in his creativity where he creates separation," Housley said. "He does things at a high-speed level, whether it's shooting, he gets his shot off quick, his first three or four strides out of the gate are really good. That's how he creates his separation and he's got great vision to make plays.
"It'll be interesting when he gets here to see him and talk to him and see how he's going to be part of our team."

Mittelstadt joins the team after scoring 30 points (11+19) in 34 games during his lone collegiate season at the University of Minnesota. Okposo was in a similar situation during his rookie year of 2007-08, when he left Minnesota after 18 games to sign his entry-level deal with the New York Islanders.
"It's pretty nerve-racking, having done it myself," he said. "You don't really know what to expect. Pro hockey's a lot different. You dream your whole life about playing in the NHL and you can taste it. Those nerves are definitely running. Just joining a team, not really knowing anybody, it's a tough thing.
"But guys learn, and they adjust and at the end of the day, it's just hockey. That's the one thing I'll remind him."
Casey Nelson joined the Sabres as an undrafted free agent for seven games to end the 2015-16 season upon the conclusion of his collegiate career at Minnesota State Mankato. He credited those games, in which he scored four assists, as being a boon to his development.
Nelson was teammates with Mittelstadt in Da Beauty League. Based on those games, he thinks the forward will be just fine.
"Any time he steps on the ice, no matter who's out there, you can tell he's going to be something special," he said.