The Sunday Read: Why Casey Mittelstadt Turned into a Coffee Drinker This Summer

BOSTON –– Casey Mittelstadt became a coffee person this summer.

Despite the early mornings, late nights and grueling travel of the NHL schedule, the Boston Bruins forward never turned to caffeinated beverages.

Fatherhood, though, forced him to finally change.

“You never thought you could do so many things when you’re tired,” Mittelstadt said with a chuckle. “A lot of coffee. I drink a lot of coffee now. I never really was a coffee drinker. I just like an iced coffee. A lot of coffee now."

Mittelstadt and his fiancée, Tatum, welcomed their son, Macklin, in April right before the playoffs began. The first-born is now five months old and got quality time with his dad before the 2026-27 season gets going.

“I think especially just the timing of when we had him, to be able to spend the summer with him and have him know who I am before I start leaving for extended periods of time has been fun,” Mittelstadt said. “It will definitely be a little bit of an adventure this year, but we’re looking forward to it.”

The now family-of-three went back to Minnesota (Mittelstadt is from Eden Prairie) for the majority of the offseason. The days consisted of workouts, skating sessions, changing diapers and, occasionally, a round of golf.

“We had a blast. It was fun to be home; obviously, we had some family around to help us out. And to get to be around the baby – it was special for them as well,” Mittelstadt said. “We really enjoyed it, but we’re happy to be back.”

NHL roots run deep in Minnesota, so Mittelstadt had a strong group of competition to train with, including Justin Faulk, Nick Leddy, Brock Boeser, Brock Nelson, Ryan McDonagh and Joey and Mikey Anderson. Mittelstadt’s main focus ahead of his second full campaign with the B’s was his speed.

“I think personally for me, I felt like maybe I was a little slow last year. So I think getting stronger and getting faster. Trying to work on some skating stuff. For me, I think I am pretty good with the puck and handling it, but sometimes I lose my feet. That was my biggest focus,” Mittelstadt said. “A lot of jumping and obviously a lot of stuff on the ice as well.”

The 27-year-old finished last year with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) through 71 regular-season matchups, and added two assists in the first round of the playoffs. Mittelstadt returned to Boston at the end of August to get settled before training camp opens on Sept. 16.​

“It’s fun, first and foremost, just to come and see the guys. It’s kind of weird; it feels like it’s been so long you haven’t seen them, and then you walk back into Warrior, and it feels like you were here yesterday,” Mittelstadt said. “We’ve got a good group back already, too, which I think helps. Just trying to stick with it, keep working out, keep skating.”

Mittelstadt is putting all his confidence in his play on the ice because, by his standards, his golf game recently took a hit. That can be argued.

“For me at least, it wasn’t a very good summer, I think. It was probably a 71. It is pretty good,” he said. “I’m pretty lucky; my family is a huge golf family, so I’ve been playing a lot for a long time. So I have maybe higher expectations, I guess.”

One of the people who beat Mittelstadt this offseason was Ben Steeves, the younger brother of Alex Steeves, who is from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Mittelstadt’s brothers, John (24) and Luke (23), grew up playing local hockey with Ben far before any of them had reached the professional level.

“They’re always running around with him. I actually know [Alex’s] older brother very well, too, so it’s kind of a weird circle,” Mittelstadt said. “I didn’t even know Alex, and now I got here, and now I obviously know him really well.”

Mittelstadt will have another familiar face in the locker room this season with Will Borgen, whom the Bruins acquired from the New York Rangers in July in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 conditional third-round pick. Mittelstadt and Borgen entered the league together at the beginning of their careers with the Buffalo Sabres.​

“I was so excited,” Mittelstadt said of the trade. “Me and Borgs kind of came up together in Buffalo. We were really close and kind of stayed close. Obviously, you drift apart a little bit, but kudos to him. He was always calling me and reaching out. It’s not my strong suit, but he kept with it. Great addition. Very happy.”

​Mittelstadt and the Bruins will face off against Borgen’s former team on opening night when they host the Rangers at TD Garden on Sept. 29 for an 8:00 p.m. puck drop. Mittelstadt will have an extra fan in the crowd that night. Macklin is set to attend his first hockey game.

“I have a little bit of a struggle separating hockey and home life. To have him, I think, has helped me a lot with that. Obviously you have to be present at the rink, and you have to go home and definitely be present for him,” Mittelstadt said. “He’s smiling and laughing now. I feel like once they’re kind of three and a half or four months, they start to kind of recognize you and smile at you. Now we pretty much just try to get him to smile all day. Definitely life-changing.”