DRAFT 411: Prospects Casey Mittelstadt and Lias Andersson

Throughout the week, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com will profile the Top Players as ranked by NHL Central Scouting on both the North American and European Skaters lists.
Monday - #1's (Patrick & Kostin).
Tuesday - #2's (Hischier & Pettersson)
Today we look at the players ranked third on the list: Casey Mittelstadt (North American) and Lias Andersson (European).
CASEY MITTELSTADT (Center)
RANK: #3 North American Skater
TEAM: Eden Prairie High School (MIN-HS)
BIRTHDATE: November 22, 1998
BIRTHPLACE: Edina, Minnesota
VITALS: 6'1", 201 pounds
SHOOTS: Left
Mittelstadt split his 2016-17 season playing hockey for his high school in Minnesota (Eden Prairie) and once that season was over, he played for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers.
High school hockey is quite the jump to the next step in the organized leagues, but is not unheard of, especially in the Minnesota programs.
Says Dan Marr, head of NHL Central Scouting: "Mittelstadt is one of these anomalies that come along every few years [from high school hockey]. We've watched him play against his peers in international tournaments and have seen him play in the USHL and at various camps, and he always makes a difference. It doesn't really matter where he plays because you get the same game from him no matter the environment."
Flyers fans might recognize the name because Mittelstadt stood out right here in Philadelphia at the 2016 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game held at the Wells Fargo Center in September. He posted two of the four goals for TEAM HOWE.
INTERVIEW & TESTING HIGHLIGHTS FROM MITTELSTADT AT THE COMBINE

LIAS ANDERSSON (Center)
TEAM: HV-71 - Swedish Hockey League
BIRTHDATE: October 13, 1998
BIRTHPLACE: Smogen, Sweden
VITALS: 5'11", 198 pounds
SHOOTS: Left
Andersson is entering his draft year as a champion. As an 18-year-old rookie, he helped lead his team, HV-71, to the SHL Championship in Sweden recording four goals and five points in 16 games.
During the regular season he posted 19 points (9g-10a) in 42 games and following the postseason, he was one of three finalists for the SHL's Rookie of the Year.
Andersson interviewed and went through all physical testing at the NHL Combine.
"To be able to be here with all the good players, and it's the road to the NHL, so of course you're excited," said Andersson to reporters at the Combine last week.

Internationally, he appeared in all seven games for Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championships where he recorded three goals and was teammates with two current Flyers prospects, goaltender Felix Sandstrom and defenseman David Bernhardt.
He also helped Sweden win a silver medal at the 2016 Under-18 World Championships where he had five goals and nine points in seven games.
HockeyProspectus.com lists Andersson as:
"A competitive two-way forward who excels at both ends of the ice due to his very high hockey smarts. He understands the game mentally on a high level and makes smart decisions."
Stay tuned on Thursday's look at the #4 ranked players on both sides.

For everything you need to know about the Flyers Draft, check out DRAFT CENTRAL