When the Bruins obtained Casey Mittelstadt from Colorado in the Charlie Coyle deal, it was hard to know what to expect from him.

But after some early missteps, it is starting to look like the B’s have a player in the 27-year-old forward, one who can make a positive impact in their top six.

While Mittelstadt may have been obtained with the thought that he’d center one of the top two lines, he’s found a home on the wing and is flourishing. He’s set to play on Tuesday in Detroit with pivot Pavel Zacha and the returning Viktor Arvidsson.

When Mittelstadt came back last Friday against Rangers from a knee injury that kept him out for three weeks, he scored a goal that may now seem meaningless but made what was looking like a blowout at least somewhat competitive. And he played a big part in the B’s 3-2 shootout win over the Red Wings on Saturday, making a nice pass to Morgan Geekie for a third period power-play goal. Then in the shootout, he flashed his undeniable skill in scoring the only goal, scooping a slick backhand over goalie Cam Talbot’s glove and just inside the post.

“I feel like he’s a totally different player (since moving to wing),” said coach Marco Sturm. “He feels way more comfortable and he’s probably our best player on the wall, just with his ability to get pucks off the yellow and make plays. He’s been very good. I also feel like he has less pressure playing on the wing, if that makes sense. Centerman, there’s a lot going on defensively, offensively. I think now he’s in that spot where he can just rely on his gift and he doesn’t have to worry about anything else. I think that helped him.”

After a slow start, he’s up to 5-6-11 totals in 17 games. The move to the wing has allowed Mittelstadt to sink his teeth into a role with this team.

“I think Marco’s done a good job of that with the guys, making it clear what he wants to see and how he wants you to play,” said Mittelstadt. “It’s really helped me and, yeah, maybe it was a little bit of an adjustment period moving to the wing but I felt like it’s going smoothly. I felt like I’ve played enough of it and I feel like I can switch back and forth a little bit. I’ve really enjoyed it. Playing with Pav, he’s a heck of a centerman, so he makes it it pretty easy on us.”

If Mittelstadt has indeed found his niche, it’s been a zig-zagging road to get here.

For a time in Buffalo, he had been a lightning rod for criticism, which can happen to players who are slow to blossom after being drafted eighth overall, as Mittelstadt was in 2017. Just as he was finding his footing with the perennial also-ran Sabres, well on his way to his second 50-point season, he was traded in the stretch run prior to the 2024 playoffs to the contending Colorado Avalanche.

He made enough of an impact there (nine points in 11 playoff games) for the Avs to sign him to a three-year deal worth $5.75 million per season in the summer of ‘24.

But by the next season, the Avs demonstrated buyer’s remorse and moved him to the B’s for Coyle and a 2026 fifth-round pick, even throwing in goal scoring prospect Will Zellers (now at North Dakota) and a 2025 second-round pick (Swedish defenseman Liam Petterson).

His start with the B’s wasn’t very promising. In 18 games after the deadline last year, he had 4-2-6 and was a whopping minus-17.

And things didn’t get off to a great start under Sturm, either. On Oct. 19, he found himself as a healthy scratch in a game against the Mammoth in Utah. Soon after, he was moved to the wing and his game has come together, though it was temporarily derailed with the injury.

While Mittelstadt’s skill has never been in question, Sturm on Friday lauded something that as been questioned in the past, fairly or not – his heart. When the B’s desperately needed a body with both David Pastrnak and Zacha out for the game, he stepped forward without the benefit of a practice or even a morning skate. That usually doesn’t happen for a player that’s been out that long. Sturm let it be known how much that was valued, saying a lot of other players would have “pulled the chute” in that situation.

“I appreciate it,” said Mittelstadt of Sturm’s comments. “I felt ready to go, so I don’t think it was anything that crazy. I appreciate the comments, but I want to play and it’s hard to watch. Any time you think you can play, you’re going to try to get yourself in there, for sure. Happy to play and happy to help out.”

Every player needs confidence, but Sturm agreed that it might be a little more important for Mittelstadt.

“And you can see it. The other night when he came up and said he wanted to play without practice or anything else, that showed me he’s a confident guy right now,” said Sturm. “He’s made some huge strides since I’ve been here, so it’s nice to see.”

Loose pucks

Arvidsson took a regular line shift, worked on the second power-play unit and led the stretch in Monday’s practice, all tell-tale signs he will be ready to play in Detroit on Tuesday. Sturm didn’t get the final word after practice but that’s what he’s expecting. He’s been out since suffering a lower body injury since pulling up lame in Montreal on Nov. 15. … Pastrnak did not travel, however. Sturm still called him day-to-day but it’s taking a little longer than anticipated.

“We were hoping he could skate by now but he didn’t so that’s why we’ll see how it is the next few days,” said Sturm.