Avalanche ink Mittelstadt to 3-year pact
The Colorado Avalanche signed restricted free-agent forward Casey Mittelstadt to a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.
The contract carries an average annual value of $5.75 million, reports The Athletic's Chris Johnston.
Colorado acquired Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres before this year's deadline in a blockbuster deal that sent defenseman Bowen Byram the other way. Mittelstadt filled a hole at center for the Avalanche, producing 10 points in 18 games before adding nine in 11 playoff contests.
"Casey was a great fit for our lineup and a big contributor to our team down the stretch and in the playoffs," general manager Chris MacFarland said. "His game has improved every season, and he took yet another big jump this past year. We believe he has an even higher level to reach, and it was important to get him signed for several years. Casey is an exciting, playmaking center with good vision and hands and, at just 25 years old, is going to be a big part of our team moving forward."
Mittelstadt will be a UFA when his new deal expires in 2027.
The Avalanche have roughly $10.4 million in cap space left, according to Cap Friendly, with a 2024-25 roster size of 13 players.