Buffalo Sabres: 2020-21 will be do or die for Casey Mittelstadt

This is a do-or-die year for Buffalo Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt.

It was announced on Wednesday that Casey Mittelstadt had signed a new one-year, $874,125 contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

Mittelstadt was the final Restricted Free Agent that needed to be re-signed by the Sabres, and the forward will now be available to report to Training Camp on Dec. 31.

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And, make no doubt about it, this will be a huge Training Camp and a huge season for Mittelstadt.

Drafted with the No. 8 overall selection at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, big things were expected of the 6-foot-one, 198 pounds center but, as of yet, he has yet to truly deliver.

Looked upon as the ideal candidate to fill the second-line center role for the Sabres and form a lethal one-two punch with franchise icon Jack Eichel down the middle, Mittelstadt has instead flamed out somewhat and now finds himself at a career crossroads already.

The 22-year-old recorded just nine points (4 G, 5 A) in 31 games for the Buffalo Sabres in 2019-20 with a plus / minus rating of -5, averaging 12:46 of ice time per game.

Failing to really impress in the NHL, Mittelstadt spent a chunk of the regular season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, where he put up 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 36 games.

However, after multiple failed auditions as a productive top-six forward, Mittelstadt will now head into the 2020-21 season with a boatload of pressure on his shoulders, fighting for his life with the Sabres and perhaps for his NHL future.

It is unlikely that Mittelstadt will win a top-six role given that the Sabres acquired veteran center Eric Staal in a trade from the Minnesota Wild during the offseason, while veteran pivot Cody Eakin will fill a bottom-six role.

Therefore, Mittelstadt could be fighting for a bottom-line role and that will hardly be conducive to proving that he still has what it takes to be a high-end forward in the NHL, and that the Sabres were right to spend the No. 8 overall pick on him back in 2017.

However, it is also feasible that the left shot could start the 2020-21 season on the Taxi Squad, only earning an opportunity to impress should injuries hit the Sabres.

But, chances will present themselves, especially during a shortened season, and Mittelstadt will need to be ready and committed to giving everything he has got to perfecting his craft and then doing a job for Buffalo.

Because, if not, then Mittelstadt could well be playing on his final contract with the Buffalo Sabres who could be tempted to cut bait if their once high-end prospect fails to deliver on all of that promise once again.

So, while his new contract carries little risk for the Sabres, all the pressure will now be on Casey Mittelstadt who must deliver in what is now a do-or-die 2020-21 season for his career in Buffalo.