Luke Osburn, the Buffalo Sabres' fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, was unable to make his presence felt while playing for Team USA at the 2026 World Juniors tournament.
Osburn, whose strong play at the University of Wisconsin this season raised hopes about his long-term outlook, didn't record any points across five games for the U.S., which was eliminated by Finland in the quarterfinals after finishing second in Group A.
Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff discussed the struggles by the 19-year-old defenseman.
"That was a difficult tournament for Osburn, who was one of USA's top players at the World Junior Summer Showcase," Ellis wrote. "He's a puck-moving defenseman who didn't seem to do much of it this tournament — he didn't register a single point. I really liked his game against Slovakia, but he struggled against Sweden and Finland. This wasn't a tournament worth remembering from Osburn."
It represented a sharp drop off in play for the 6-foot-1 blueliner, who's recorded eight points (two goals and six assists) in his first college season with the Badgers.
Luke Osburn's struggles at the international level raise questions about his NHL timetable
Osburn's best hockey comes when he's active in transition. Whether that's moving the puck up the ice himself or joining the rush to receive a pass, he likes getting involved offensively and it allows his superb skating to shine through.
Not only did the left-shot defender fail to crack the stat sheet in the tournament, which was won by Sweden, but he simply wasn't involved enough. He was a non-factor in most contests.
A handful of games playing alongside short-term teammates isn't enough to significantly alter a prospect's trajectory, but it does raise questions about whether Osburn is ready for the rigors of professional hockey in the near future.
There was a chance, with a breakout World Juniors followed by a strong finish to the collegiate campaign, that he'd been a candidate to join the AHL's Rochester Americans for the end of the season. It was a long shot, but it was possible.
Now Osburn is likely looking at another full year, and potentially two, at Wisconsin before making that jump to the pro game enters the conversation.
He still possesses ample upside as an offensive-minded defenseman, though.
Other Buffalo Sabres young players also struggled in the World Juniors
Osburn wasn't the only Sabres prospect who endured a mostly muted performance in the event.
Radim Mrtka (Czechia), the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 draft, missed the start of the tournament with an injury and then tallied no points in five games. The Czechs did reach the championship game before falling short against the Swedes, 4-2.
Adam Kleber (USA), a 2024 second-rounder, finished with one assist in five appearances and wasn't overly noticeable aside from a few blocked shots. The defender's compete level is always there, but questions about his skill ceiling are legitimate.
Meanwhile, the one Sabres youngster who did put together a few highlight-reel moments was winger Brodie Ziemer, a 2024 third-round selection who racked up a goal and five assists. He also served as captain of the American squad.
Ziemer continues to look like a future middle-six fixture for Buffalo.
Ultimately, it wasn't the type of World Juniors production the Sabres front office was hoping for, but it does help the evaluation process as new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen begins deciding which players are part of the club's future and which ones are expendable in trade talks.
Now the question is whether those changes will begin in earnest before the 2026 NHL trade deadline in March or if he'll wait until the summer to shake things up, including the prospect pool.