CHICAGO – The Buffalo Sabres selected high-scoring center Casey Mittelstadt eighth overall tonight at the NHL Draft.
“It’s been a lot of buildup,” an excited Mittelstadt said inside the United Center. “It’s been a stressful day, to be honest with you, in the last little while. It started to get a little stressful. It’s a big relief to be picked. Me and my family are super excited. … Going to a great place like Buffalo makes it even better.”
The 18-year-old Mittelstadt played with his Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota last year and the United State Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Mittelstadt is committed to the University of Minnesota and said he plans to play there next season. He compiled 13 goals and 30 points in 27 USHL games last season and 21 goals and 64 points in 25 high school contests.