By Warren Kozireski —
As with most trades in the National Hockey League that involve draft picks, it can take years to judge which team got the better of a particular transaction. So, Buffalo fans will need to be patient to see the return on their dealing of Jack Eichel to Vegas because the first-round draft choice they received as part of the package was Noah Ostlund, who is just starting his professional career this season in Rochester.
And he got off to a slower start than anyone wanted with just one goal over his first six games. Then came surgery on a hand injury that cost him 21 games and six more scoreless games upon his return to the lineup Dec. 20.
But since then, Ostlund has shown why Buffalo thought so highly of him that they made him the 16th overall pick in the first round in 2022. He has scored points in seven of the next 11 games including his first three-point effort Jan. 25 at Hartford and a two-point game on the first of February.
“Feeling better the last couple of weeks,” Ostlund said. “(Missing 21 games) was tough both mentally and physically too, but now I hoping to take advantage. I gained five or six pounds I think, so that was good for me.
“Our power play has been putting up some points (and) that’s been helping me as an offensive player that plays a lot there and the puck has been bouncing my way. Sometimes it bounces in and sometimes it doesn’t.
“I tend to be a two-way player so I like to both special teams; it’s fun to be out there to kill plays for the other team as well.”
“I’ve been telling you guys he’s the real deal.” Rochester head coach Michael Leone said. “He is everything you want as a coach. Every situation you can’t say enough good things about him. How hard he works behind the scenes downstairs (weight room), he’s a quiet worker.
“Noah gives you physicality in a different way, taking hits to make plays. He’s responsible, plays the game the right way, he’s always above the puck, he makes players around him better…and he’s a great puck distributor in transition. And I just appreciate as a coach his play away from the puck.
“He’s going to play hockey for a long time and he’s going to get even better.”
Ostlund, who turns 21 years old in March, spent most of his development years with Djurgarden in Sweden until last season when he was loaned to Laxgo. He sent a message with his play at the 2024 U-20 World Junior championships when he registered ten points in seven games against his peer group as assistant captain of Team Sweden.
He has been tagged as primarily a passer pre and post-draft with his vision of what’s happening on the ice a primary asset.
“I’ve always had very good IQ out there. I’ve been playing a lot of hockey growing up like small-ice games and watched a lot of hockey too and I just try to play to my instinct and not think too much out there, play mt game and use that as my strength.”
Most game days at the end of warmups, Ostlund finds a fan that he will flip a puck to, his way of giving back.
“If I see some kid who really wants a puck, I try to give them one; it’s not as hard for us and it means a lot to the kid. Back home (the fans) aren’t as close to the ice, but here it’s easier.”
Maturity and awareness beyond his years of experience both on and off the ice.
Photo by Rochester Americans)
