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.”

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Originally Published: October 8, 2024 at 5:45 a.m.