It didn't take 2017 first round draft pick, Casey Mittelstadt, to win over Buffalo Sabres fans. On the fourth, and final day of Sabres development camp, Mittelstadt and his fellow teammates on the white team were victorious in all five of their games, winning the 3-on-3 French Connection tournament.
"We had a really good team, we had a lot of fun," Mittelstadt said at the conclusion of development camp. "We got to play with some pace and that's when I play at my best, so yeah, it was definitely really fun."
Mittelstadt -> Asplund -> Mittelstatdt
That was pretty #Sabres pic.twitter.com/QAuudMgrUe
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) July 11, 2017
Mittelstadt finished with three goals over the course of the four-team tournament. The first, a pretty give and go with teammate Rasmus Asplund, who found Mittelstadt lurking in the face-off circle. Mittelstadt's second goal was an empty-netter, but he saved his best for last.
In the championship game against the Nick Baptiste and Brendan Guhle led Gold Team, Mittelstadt flew up the wing and sent a perfect wrist shot into the top-corner of the net. The goal turned out to be the game-winner.
Mittelstadt's final goal was a thing of beauty #Sabres pic.twitter.com/ucWM00YEbk
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) July 11, 2017
"Obviously everyone wants to come out and play well but it's important to come out and take everything in and try and develop and become a better player too and take things home you need to work on," Mittelstadt added. "I think for me, I definitely found some things I need to work on but I thought I played well."
If the results of the tournament were any indication, 'well' might be an understatement. Mittelstadt's team finished the day with three wins in round-robin play and a pair of wins in the semifinals and finals.
"Look, Casey is, as we said in Chicago, we're excited to have him in our organization." Sabres GM Jason Botterill said with a chuckle.
Botterill added that Mittelstadt has things he needs to work on but that he and the organization are expecting a big year from the 18-year-old forward at the University of Minnesota.
"This is the first time I saw Casey play and I think he's one of the better players I've ever seen play." 2016 second round pick and teammate Rasmus Asplund said about Mittelstadt. "He's so shifty and so hard to play against. I got to play with him today but he has such good skills."
Mittelstadt will remain in Western New York until he flies back home to Minnesota tomorrow. He's planning on using the next few days to explore the area, something he hasn't done much of. When asked where he's been, Mittelstadt said with a smile that he's only been to the Chipotle Mexican Restaurant near the mall.
It's a three-on-three tournament with prospects so take this for what it's worth -- Casey Mittelstadt can play.
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) July 11, 2017
