ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund possesses maturity rarely seen in rookies.
Mike Leone said Ostlund, 20, is perhaps the most responsible player in the defensive zone he has ever coached. Vinny Prospal said the coaches don’t worry when the Swede’s line is playing in its own zone.
Ostlund, a center the Sabres drafted 16th overall in 2022, arrived in North America late last season. He has played just 10 games for the Americans this year – a hand injury sidelined him for 21 contests – and 15 total in the AHL.
He has quickly adapted defensively to a different brand of hockey on the smaller ice surface. On the offensive side, however, he’s struggling.
Entering Friday’s road game against the Springfield Thunderbirds, Ostlund had mustered just one goal this season, his only point.
“You’re looking at his stats, they suck,” Prospal, an assistant coach, told the Times Herald following Tuesday’s practice in Paul Louis Arena. “Like, let’s be honest, they suck. For a guy that has been highly, highly drafted, you want more production.
“That’s basically the only thing that I want from him as a player is to improve his production, to be more productive, because I see how skilled he is.”
The Amerks, of course, are confident Ostlund, whose hockey sense helps make him a high-level prospect, will break out offensively.
“What he does to get better – his preparation, everything – he’s a true pro,” said Prospal, who scored 765 points in 1,108 NHL games.
Entering Friday’s contest, Ostlund had pumped 27 shots on goal, giving him a paltry 3.7 shooting percentage. Leone said the youngster recently had a two-on-one in overtime.
“He’s getting scoring chances,” said Leone, who’s in his first season coaching Rochester. “I think that’s the only thing, if you look at his stats, people are probably like, ‘Oh, he’s not scoring.’ But he’s doing so many other things that I think eventually he’s going to start putting those away.”
Ostlund might develop into a scorer and bury those chances when he improves his shot.
“For him to take the next step of being more productive, how he’s going to do it is work on his shot,” Prospal said. “I think he sees the ice very well. Sometimes it’s about who he’s playing with, right, if the guys are producing or not.
“But I just think if he finds a way how to produce, he’s going to be a very good hockey player.”
Ostlund said he has “been playing well.”
“But the puck hasn’t got in,” said Ostlund, who was drafted with the pick the Sabres received from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Jack Eichel trade. “I think when (I) get at least one, then I think it will come more and more easy.”
Ostlund spent last season competing against men with the Swedish Hockey League’s Vaxjo HC, scoring 12 goals and 23 points in 38 games. He joined the Amerks in April and played five total games, including three appearances in the Calder Cup Playoffs, scoring one goal and two points.
He enjoyed stellar rookie and training camps in Buffalo this season – “He was awesome,” Prospal said – before injuring his hand in late October and undergoing surgery. He did not return until Dec. 20.
“I feel pretty good right now,” Ostlund said. “It’s been a tough couple of months.”
That’s a slick way to end it.
This OT winner from Noah Ostlund is a beauty! pic.twitter.com/w6Kb5bzfou
— NHL (@NHL) September 27, 2024
While missing nearly two months was difficult, it offered Ostlund, who’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 171 pounds, an opportunity to pack on weight. Leone said he’s approaching 180 pounds.
These days, he’s also fresher than most of his teammates.
“Not ideal for a young kid (to miss so much time), but this could benefit him later in the season,” Prospal said. “I truly expect his production to really take off because he put a lot of time and effort (in). He’s still in the process of … growing into his body, becoming a man.”
As he does that, Ostlund can take confidence from his sturdy defensive play.
“The guys come out of Sweden, they’re really responsible,” Prospal said. “… Their upbringing, they really put (a) lot of emphasis on being a 200-foot player, which Noah is, and that’s what he’s really bringing in here.”
Leone said Ostlund can “impact the game away from the puck at a really high level.”
“He’s never on the ice for scoring chances against,” he said.