Colorado
Casey Mittelstadt can be more than just a solution to Avalanche’s second-line center problem
For the past two seasons, the Colorado Avalanche searched for an answer to its second-line center question.
When the 2024-25 campaign begins Wednesday night in Las Vegas, that spot in the lineup will no longer be a problem. Casey Mittelstadt is not only a solution, he could be a critical part of how the Avs navigate early uncertainty and why this club could make another run at a Stanley Cup once the roster is whole.
“I think he’s going to have a great year,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. “He looks awesome. He’s a lot more comfortable around the room and on the ice. I think the sky’s the limit for him. There’s a lot of untapped potential.”
After Nazem Kadri left for Calgary following the Stanley Cup run in 2022, the Avs spent the next season and two-thirds looking for his replacement. Not having a guy who could anchor the second line behind MacKinnon was a significant flaw on a roster that didn’t have many.
Then, a bold move. Colorado traded Bo Byram, the best young player in the organization and the No. 4 pick in the 2019 draft, to Buffalo for Mittelstadt. He was also a top-10 pick, and like Byram hadn’t fulfilled all of his immense potential.
Mittelstadt played well upon arriving and looked at home during his first taste of Stanley Cup Playoffs hockey. The Avs locker room isn’t for everyone, but he was quickly embraced.
“Just coming for the playoffs, he didn’t have that in Buffalo, so he was just getting his feet wet,” said Jonathan Drouin, another new guy last season who found his place. “I think he did a great job. (Mittlestadt) works hard off the ice, he puts in the extra time on the ice after practice. I think it’s going to do wonders for him (to be here). He’s a hell of a player.”
With a new three-year, $17.25 million contract in tow, Mittelstadt is now part of Colorado’s core. When the Avalanche acquired him, general manager Chris MacFarland and coach Jared Bednar spoke of there being more for him to unlock in his game.
He set a career high with 59 points two seasons ago, and a new personal best with 18 goals last year.
“The main thing I want to work towards is being a very consistent player,” Mittelstadt said. “I think I’ve done a decent job with it over the last couple of years, but there’s obviously room for improvement. I feel like I’m in the right spot to do that. You see what the leaders do here and how they take care of themselves.
“I got here and thought I had it a little bit figured out, and then you learn a lot from these guys. I’m going to continue to try and learn and hopefully get better.”
The Avs generally like players to fit into one of two buckets offensively — either add speed and play fast, or help retain possession of the puck (or both, with guys like MacKinnon). Then there are “non-negotiables” as Bednar calls it, which pertain to the work on the defensive side.
Mittelstadt’s skillset looked like an instant fit for Colorado, particularly in the latter part of the offensive identity.
“His playmaking ability with the puck is honestly among the best I’ve ever seen,” Avs forward Logan O’Connor said. “He can stickhandle in a phone booth. It’s crazy impressive. For him, I think getting the end of last year and playoffs under his belt, it gives him less of a learning curve. You can see it out there with his playmaking and his 200-foot game. He’s a great asset to have.”
While Mittelstadt’s role with the Avs is clear, who is going to play with him is not. Eventually, it could be two of Artturi Lehkonen, Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog, but none of them are currently available.
If Bednar decides to keep Drouin, MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen together on the top line, the Avs will need Mittelstadt to anchor an uncertain second trio. He’s also likely to start the year filling in as the net-front guy on the top power-play unit.
The guy who was a potential answer to a long-standing question is now someone the club is going to need a lot of from. There could be some added pressure there, beyond just settling in with a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations.
“I don’t really look at it that way,” Mittelstadt said. “I rely on the fact that I worked really hard this summer and have for a while now. I’m going to put my trust in that hard work and play the best I can.”
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.
Originally Published:
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – Police are looking for a suspect that reportedly assaulted an officer on Friday.
The Palmer Lake Police Department said an officer was doing a traffic stop around 11:38 p.m. on Friday near Highway 105 and Peak View Boulevard. During the stop, they said a dark blue sedan with a white rear fender sped by and someone in that car threw a bottle at the officer while yelling obscenities.
Police said that officer got a partial description of the passenger, who was described to be a white man wearing a black shirt. Police said the suspect’s vehicle headed toward the Monument area, near the McDonald’s off Highway 105.
That suspect then reportedly returned to the Palmer Lake area, speeding past the officer again.
Police said they tried to stop the vehicle, but the suspect evaded, heading south on I-25.
If you have any information or footage, you can call the El Paso County non-emergency line at (719) 390-5555. You can also submit an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (719) 634-STOP.
Copyright 2025 KKTV. All rights reserved.
Heavy rains in southern Colorado earlier this week have led to flooding that destroyed part of a road in the foothills just west of Colorado Springs.
City of Colorado Springs
Video posted by the city online shows high runoff in North Cheyenne Creek and heavy damage to the adjacent North Cheyenne Cañon Road. Pavement can be seen broken off from one of the lanes of the road, and the creekwaters are rushing under a collapsed section of roadway.
The washout was first discovered on Wednesday morning. It is located approximately 1.5 miles up the canyon.
Both gates into North Cheyenne Cañon Park are closed due to the damage assessment that is now taking place. The city says Gold Camp Road is also closed to everyone except for local residents.
“We are working on a plan to repair the road, and prevent further roadway damage,” the city wrote in a post on social media.
Colorado
Colorado terror attack suspect Mohamed Soliman formally slapped with 118 charges for antisemitic firebombing attack: court docs
Accused Colorado terrorist Mohamed Sabry Soliman was formally slapped with a whopping 118 criminal counts by state prosecutors Thursday for the horrific firebombing attack on people participating in a march to honor Israeli hostages days earlier.
Soliman, 45 — an Egyptian national who was living in the US illegally after his visa expired on March 28 — is now facing 28 counts of attempted murder for allegedly spraying a homemade flamethrower and hurling Molotov cocktails at the peaceful marchers in Boulder Sunday, according to court documents.
The hate-filled madman allegedly injured 15 people, ranging in age from 25 to 88, and one dog on Sunday when he attacked Run for Their Lives, an organization advocating for the release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
Three burn victims remain in the hospital, according to reports.
Soliman, who lived in Colorado Springs, reportedly said “he wanted them to all die and that was [his] plan. He said he would go back and do it again and had no regret doing what he did,” Boulder Detective John Sailer wrote in an affidavit for his arrest warrant.
Soliman – who shouted “Free Palestine” after the attack – stood behind a transparent partition in court Thursday as the charges were announced.
In addition to attempted murder, the alleged terrorist was also charged with several counts of use of an explosive or incendiary device and assault on a person over the age of 70, and one count of cruelty towards animals, according to court docs.
If convicted, Soliman could be looking at nearly 700 years behind bars, according to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.
“The charges reflect the evidence we have regarding this horrific attack that took place and the seriousness of it,” Dougherty told reporters outside the courthouse. “I encourage all of us to continue to lift up the victims, and support them and their loved ones and the Jewish community in response to this crime.”
Additional charges could be brought by prosecutors as new evidence is unearthed in the ongoing investigation into the antisemitic Boulder attack, authorities have said.
Soliman, who overstayed his visa, is also facing charges from federal prosecutors — including federal hate crime charges, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Since the attack ICE detained Soliman’s wife and five children who now face expedited deportation.
His next court date is on July 15.
Video: Why the U.S. Brought Back Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Dr: Tirzepatide May Be Even Better Than Ozempic for Weight Loss
'Wait Wait' for June 7. 2025: With Not My Job guest Jeff Gordon
Xbox console games are suddenly showing up inside the Xbox PC app
Right-wing Colombian presidential candidate shot at rally
-
News1 week agoVideo: Faizan Zaki Wins Spelling Bee
-
News1 week agoVideo: Harvard Commencement Speaker Congratulates and Thanks Graduates
-
Politics1 week agoMichelle Obama facing backlash over claim about women's reproductive health
-
Technology1 week agoAI could consume more power than Bitcoin by the end of 2025
-
News1 week agoPresident Trump pardons rapper NBA YoungBoy in flurry of clemency actions
-
Technology1 week agoSEC drops Binance lawsuit in yet another gift to crypto
-
Technology1 week agoOpenAI wants ChatGPT to be a ‘super assistant’ for every part of your life
-
World1 week agoTwo killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine before possible talks in Turkiye