Hockey coverage doesn’t sleep even though it’s technically the off-season.
And while we all wait for John Tavares’ decision on where he’ll play for the next several years, NHL development camps are well underway, meaning your favourite prospects are going up against their fellow peers in various drills, all while getting acclimated with their respective organizations.
A couple days ago, we showed you Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina dazzling at Red Wings camp. The talent disparity at development camps can be quite staggering, as you’ll get a mix of top NHL prospects on the same ice surface as a couple kids on a tryout basis that likely won’t get a shot at playing professional hockey at the NHL level.
So, it should come as no surprise to see Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt dominate in a 2v2 half-ice battle drill. Just watch No. 37 in yellow below.
The 6’1”, 201-pounder might not like the biggest guy on skates, but he certainly doesn’t look small. Did he finally learn to do a pull-up?
Here are a couple more looks from earlier on in the camp.
Not to be outdone by first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin, of course.
What a shot.
After leaving the University of Minnesota to sign with the Sabres last spring, Mittelstadt amassed 1 goal and 5 points in six games. The 8th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft is expected to be on the mainstay on the roster next season.
Dahlin, meanwhile, could line up with Rasmus Ristolainen, forming the dreaded Rasmus-Rasmus defensive pairing that could set up the Sabres for years to come.
