Buffalo Sabres Draft: Grading the 2022 NHL Draft Class
By Sion Fawkes
Drafting Noah Ostlund over Danila Yurov and Joakim Kemell
This pick just made no sense. NHL Central Scouting ranked Ostlund 18th among European skaters. By contrast, the Buffalo Sabres third round pick, Viktor Neuchev, ranked 34th. That said, I’ve looked at Neuchev as a potential steal that should have gone in the late-second or early-third, as in, earlier than Buffalo’s selection in the third.
At best, Ostlund should have gone in the early-second, but for some odd reason, Adams reached for the underwhelming Swedish prospect in favor of Danila Yurov and Joakim Kemell. And as you know, Kemell went one pick later to the Nashville Predators.
Scouts like Elite Prospects label Ostlund a playmaker. But the kid, at least right now, doesn’t score goals. Yeah, he can spread the puck around, I’ll give him that. And while his above-average productivity would not have kept him on the draft boards long, it was underwhelming for a first round pick.
In Ostlund’s defense, he did find twine five times in seven playoff games for Djurgardens. But Sabres fans should know better than to get hung up on playoff statistics (Jack Quinn, anyone?). Overall, Ostlund, from his statistics to his build, is reminiscent of another potential project, Isak Rosen.