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Originally posted on Colorado Hockey Now
By Colleen Flynn | Last updated Dec 5, 2024 6:08 PM ET
It’s been tough for Casey Mittelstadt lately. He has struggled to produce after a solid start to the season, but it’s nothing new to him.
“I definitely expect a lot more out of myself than what it’s been the last little bit here,” Mittelstadt said. “So I’ve been through stretches like this before, though, and obviously gotten through them, and guys keep working hard and trying to get better. I think that’s how you get through.”
The 26-year-old has 18 points in 26 games but has been held scoreless in nine of the last 10. For a player that head coach Jared Bednar said has another level — elite, even — you’ve got to wonder if it’s a mental block he’s going through.
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“He’s probably a little frustrated in his game, but for us to have a guy that can play in that two hole and play in all situations and help us create offense with some of the high-end wingers that we got, I think is really important,” Bednar said.
Accountability is important in any job and it’s no different in professional sports, especially team sports.
“When I watch my games back, to be honest, it’s probably mostly my fault, if you want my honest answer,” Mittelstadt said. “As a player, you got to take responsibility and know that you have to be better. Otherwise, you just brush it off and it continues to linger. So for me, just keep working hard and get better.”
Mittelstadt only had eight shots in the last 10 games. He had 21 shots in the 10 games prior and notched 11 points. I talked to him about shooting more earlier in the season and if that was something he was focused on. He said he knew he needed to shoot more but it wasn’t natural to him.
“He’s got to have more of a shot mentality,” Bednar said. “If you look to pass and stop your feet all the time, the defending is too good in this league, and they’re going to break up a lot of plays. Still makes a lot of really nice plays on a nightly basis.”
The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native did not use his cycling of linemates as an excuse for his scoring drought. Bednar, on the other hand, acknowledged that his line has shifted around the most which can throw a player off.
“His position, his linemates — they’ve been the most inconsistent, probably out of any line that we’ve had this year because of injuries. So I know that that’s difficult. He’s just got to keep plugging away,” Bednar said.
His ice time was significantly reduced in the 5-4 comeback win against his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, on Tuesday. He played 16 minutes, compared to an average of over 20 minutes in the three games before that.
Other Avs players going through a slump just needed to get that first after a long while to blow the doors off a scoring drought. Mittelstadt just needs that break — whether it’s a skilled, perfectly placed shot or a lucky bounce, something’s got to give.
