‘Mittelstadt has been among the Sabres’ top players during their 7-8-1 start this season with three goals and 13 points. His 39 even-strength points in 49 games dating to Feb. 1 were tied for seventh in the NHL entering play Wednesday. He’s excellent at protecting the puck and creating space for his linemates to score, and he showed late last season that he can succeed while facing the opponents’ top players. Mittelstadt has developed into the top-six center the Sabres envisioned when former general manager Jason Botterill drafted him eighth overall in 2017.’