By Warren Kozireski —

The third of Buffalo’s three 2022 first round draft picks finally arrived in North America as Noah Ostlund joined the Rochester Americans late in the regular season and for their playoff run.

Going into the 2022 NHL Draft, Swedish forward Noah Ostlund was described as “the most prolific setup-man in the entire Swedish junior circuit” projected as a late first round selection, The Sabres chose him with the 16^th overall pick sandwiched by Matt Savoie (9^th) and Juri Kulich (28^th).

Ostlund, playing on a line with fellow prospects Isak Rosen and Juri Kulich in the first round of the playoffs, played the final two regular season games registering an assist and scored his first goal in game one of the North Division semi-final series with Syracuse.

“(Fellow Swede Anton) Wahlberg and Ostlund are getting more accustomed every day in practice, every game at the lack of time and space and the physicality,” Rochester head coach Seth Appert said. “They’re both talented, smart young players and they’re making adjustments on the fly right now.

“They’re not physically ready to be physically demanding players right now…but they’re both doing a really good job right now.

“He’s not intimidated by physicality at all, he just needs to get used to the lack of time and space in North America. One thing he’s made the adjustment already—we talked after game one—in North America you have to take in more information before you get the puck. In Europe you can get the puck, slow it down and kind of navigate your way through…because it’s a little more soccer-like. In North America you need to scan and take in pre-information before you get the puck because, once you get it, your time is eliminated.

“He’s smart enough and already made that adjustment…so that allows him to find those plays. He’s a natural play-making center and it’s a lot to ask just coming over to North America and our centers are pretty good right now, so that’s why we slotted him on the wing.”

The 5’11”, 163 lb. center is playing wing as he adjusts to the larger ice. He has bounced around this season being loaned by Djurgårdens to Vaxjo in Sweden where he put up 23 points in 38 games. He also played for Team Sweden at the U-20 World Juniors where the assistant captain had ten points in seven games against his peers.

He was with Rochester last season during the postseason, but did not play, something he believes helped prepare him for this playoff run. He scored his first American Hockey League goal on the power play in his first playoff game on home ice against Syracuse.

“Good timing and a great win for us,” Ostlund said after the game. “I’m pretty used to playoffs right now because I’ve been playing playoffs for a while back in Sweden.

“(last year) I got to know all the guys, the staff and the city too, so it’s helped very much. What you see out there is how I am as a player and how I want to play. Couple more good chances that could have created more offense.”

Though he does not possess size, especially compared to those he is facing who are several years his senior, Ostlund is not afraid to go into the corners or the front of the net in the offensive zone.

“Try to hang on to the puck rather than shoot it away as early.”

And he has more than a few countrymen to help with his transition to North America in Isak Rosen, Linus Weissbach.

“I try my best and I think we have a lot of guys that can help…a lot of Swedes, Kulich can help them too and, of course, our veteran players are great at helping younger players,” Rosen said about the rookie.

“I think it’s easy to come into our group…and they’re (Ostlund & Wahlberg) trying their best to get to know everyone, so it’s been good.”

Experiencing what will likely be a full season in Rochester next season will further that acclimatization and give Buffalo’s front office and coaching staff a better read on what they have in the just turned 20-year-old.

(Photo by Koz/NY Hockey Online)

By Warren Kozireski —

The Buffalo Savres tried to trade up for a second pick in the first round of the 2023 draft to take 6’2”, 194 lb. Swedish forward Anton Wahlberg, but it turned out that they did not need too as he fell to them in the second round 39^th overall.

Other teams may kick themselves later, but now he tries to prove them wrong as he begins his North American professional career with the Rochester Americans down the home stretch of the season.

“He’s been excellent…18 years old (19 in July) and he’s barely played on NHL ice surfaces—most of his career has been on Olympic-size ice surfaces,” Rochester head coach Seth Appert said about the rookie.

“His international tournaments; both the 18’s and World Juniors were both in Europe so both Olympic-size ice…so he’s making hard plays, he’s helping us get out of our d-zone by being strong on the wall and then he’s executed well offensively.

After going without a point in his first game with the Amerks (3/30), he had points in three straight including his first goal at Providence April 6^th.

“It was great; I didn’t even realize I got a point,” Wahlberg said after his first home game. “I’m a big guy; I want to be strong…in front of the goal and along the boards.

(Captain Michael) Mersch has been really good with me; he talks a lot with me. The game (here) is a little bit faster, in Sweden we have much more system (where) here we chip it in every time, play quick, so that’s been the biggest adjustment, I think. But every game I learn a lot, so it’s been very good for me.”

Wahlberg’s father, Mikael had a long hockey career in Europe and Anton represented Sweden at the recent U-20 World Juniors where he registered three points in nine games against his age group. With Malmo in the Swedish men’s league this season, he had five goals and ten points in 43 games.

At the 2023 draft in Nashville, Wahlberg was forecast as a winger at the professional level but has played and has the reach to play center. Which does he prefer?

“I don’t know. I can play both center and winger, so I’ll play wherever coach puts me and try to do my best there. I like center more; I feel a little more comfortable there, but at the same time I feel I can play wing pretty good so not the biggest deal if they put me at wing.”

The Rochester coaching staff is not waiting to throw Wahlberg into the fire to see what he can handle playing on the second power play unit in just his second game.

“Today I got a lot of playing time. They’re testing me on the power play, and it feels great. I feel like they’re giving me a good chances…so it’s been really great.

“I would say I’m a power forward…strong on the puck, little finesse here and there, but overall, just a power forward.”

Next test is the final weeks of the regular season and playoff hockey.

Early returns show the Sabres may have been very lucky Wahlberg fell to them in the second round.

(Photos provided by Rochester Americans Hockey Team)