ROCHESTER – Americans rookie Anton Wahlberg’s ability to impact games without scoring makes him a unique prospect for the Buffalo Sabres.
To wit: in the third period of Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 overtime loss, coach Mike Leone said the 6-foot-4, 198-pound winger leveled one of the Toronto Marlies and generated three or four scoring chances simply by “playing to his identity and his strengths.”
“With his physical tools, he’s able to get in on the forecheck, get in on the net-front to really establish a presence when he’s on the ice,” he said following Tuesday’s practice in Blue Cross Arena.
Leone said opponents already know when Wahlberg, 19, is roaring in on the forecheck, they must think twice about going back to retrieve the puck.
Of course, Wahlberg, having scored four goals and eight points in 15 games this season, possesses skill to complement his size and aggressiveness. During last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs, shortly after he joined the Amerks from the Swedish Hockey League, he scored a highlight-reel goal by driving to the net, toe-dragging and deking.
But his ticket to the NHL will likely be punched by consistently utilizing his hulking frame to establish an identity as a heavy presence.
Wahlberg, who noted he has showcased more physicality in the AHL, said Leone has told him how he can influence games.
“Basically, he said, ‘Yeah, you can be an impact guy if you don’t score. Be physical, do something like to get the team going,’” said Wahlberg, a second-round pick in 2023, 39th overall. “So just hearing that from him, that’s a big confidence boost.”
The example Leone used to illustrate the type of player Wahlberg can become – Sabres winger Jordan Greenway – should also infuse him with confidence.
“He impacts the game,” Leone said of the 6-foot-6, 231-pound Greenway. “Like, he’s physical. He doesn’t have to be on the score sheet to know when he’s on the ice. It’s a hard game.
“I think adding that element to his game is really important to his development, because he has a unique skill set for a big man to make plays.”
Leone said he expects a youngster like Wahlberg to endure “a lot of ups and downs” as he adapts to the AHL. Still, the first weeks this season have been promising.
“There’s been a lot more good,” said Leone, whose Amerks host the Hershey Bears tonight.
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After making 26 saves in Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout win over the Laval Rocket, the Amerks will likely start goalie Devon Levi again tonight.
Levi’s arrival from the Sabres gives the Amerks three goalies. In the opening weeks of the season, Michael Houser, who has an AHL contract, and Felix Sandstrom mostly shared the net.
“Those two guys have been fantastic,” Leone said.
Sandstrom, who recently returned from an upper-body injury, backed up Levi in Laval as Houser was recovering from a stomach bug.
Levi, of course, will play most of the games. So, how will Leone handle his other goalies?
“I think we’ll reevaluate after the weekend to see where we’re at,” he said.
Sandstrom has found a groove following a slow start. Overall, he has registered a 3-2-1 record with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in six games.
“The last four games, he’s getting to his spots and he’s making reads,” Leone said. “He’s there. There’s not scramble plays where he’s fighting to see it. He’s making saves he’s needed to make, and he’s made some huge ones. He’s won some big games for us to start the season.”
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The start time of the Sabres’ Dec. 11 home game against the New York Rangers has been moved up to 7 p.m. from 7:30 p.m.