Sabres re-sign Mittelstadt, Jokiharju to 3-year contracts

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres locked up two youngsters considered integral to their rebuilding plans by re-signing center Casey Mittelstadt and defenseman Henri Jokiharju on Thursday to three-year contracts each worth $7.5 million.

Both were restricted free agents and their signings leave Buffalo focused on getting defenseman Rasmus Dahlin under contract before training camp opens in about three weeks. Dahlin is also a restricted free agent. He’s been the Sabres top offensive defenseman since being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

The 22-year-old Mittelstadt was a 2017 first-round pick out of Minnesota and overcame early career inconsistencies to finish third on the Sabres with 10 goals and fourth with 22 points in 41 games last season. That was a jump from 2019-20 when his struggles led to a demotion to the minors.

Used sparingly to open last season, Mittelstadt saw his production jump when he gained additional playing time after coach Ralph Krueger was fired in mid-March. He was replaced by Don Granato, who has taken over on a full-time basis.

Overall, Mittelstadt has 27 goals and 61 points in 155 career NHL games.

Mittelstadt is considered part of a young core the Sabres hope to build around following an offseason in which the team traded forward Sam Reinhart and with captain Jack Eichel’s status uncertain. The Sabres are attempting to trade Eichel due to a rift over how to treat a neck injury that has sidelined him since March.

Minus Eichel, Mittelstadt would be counted upon to take over as Buffalo’s second-line center, behind Dylan Cozens, who is coming off a promising rookie season.

Jokiharju had three goals and eight points in 46 games for the Sabres last season. Overall, he has seven goals and 23 points in 115 games since Buffalo acquired him in a trade with Chicago in July 2019.

The 22-year-old from Finland is expected to play a larger role on a new-look blue line after Buffalo traded veteran Rasmus Ristolainen to Philadelphia and lost Jake McCabe to free agency this summer.

Panorama Hispano is the regional news and information newspaper for Hispanic and other diverse communities.

US Hispanics are now the largest ethnic minority in the United States numbering 54.2 million as of July 2014. Serving: Buffalo, Rochester, Fredonia, Niagara Falls, NY and Erie, PA. Outside our Market area: Visit our affiliate at: http://www.impremedia.com/

Contact us: Contact@PanoramaHispanoNews.com

Featured News

Feb 5, 2025
Aliados y adversarios rechazan la sugerencia de Trump de que EEUU “tome” el control de Gaza

DUBÁI, Emiratos Árabes Unidos (AP) — La propuesta del presidente Donald Trump de que Estados Unidos “tome” la Franja de […]

Read More
Feb 3, 2025
New York shields abortion pill prescribers after a doctor was indicted in Louisiana

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday signed a bill to shield the identities of doctors […]

Read More
Feb 3, 2025
Saquon Barkley podría batir récord de yardas en una temporada, pero solo desea ganar el Super Bowl

FILADELFIA (AP) — Las fotos enmarcadas cuelgan en la pared del extremo del vestuario de los Eagles de Filadelfia, sobre […]

Read More

popular categories

Featured (5,432)
Mundo Latino (2,079)
Locales / Regional (1,219)
Buffalo (2,102)
Dunkirk (1,656)
Rochester (1,627)
PA (1,218)
Negocios / Tecnología (1,061)
Tecnología y Science (218)
Salud (569)
Deportes (942)
Entretenimiento (800)
Extras (451)
Movies (227)
Viajes, Vida y Estilo (713)
Copyright © 2025 Panorama Hispano News. All Rights Reserved.
crossmenuchevron-downmenu-circlecross-circle
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram