Two years. 

That’s how much time Casey Mittelstadt has to become a core piece for the Buffalo Sabres. In 2024, not only will his contract end, the bridge deal that pays him $2.5 million per season, but so will the deals for Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Victor Olofsson, and Peyton Krebs.

That's a lot of contact work to sort through. 

And the Sabres’ have made it their goal to lock down their potential top players for the long-term, Dahlin, Power, and Olofsson will likely be signing hefty contracts. Based on simple economics, that leaves less for potentially complementary piece in Mittelstadt.

And remember this organization bets on potential. The Sabres gave Mattias Samuelsson a seven-year, $4.285 million contract after just 54 games. Add in the competition from Jack Quinn and John Jason Peterka