Buffalo Sabres prospect Luke Osburn was named USHL Defenseman of the Year on Tuesday and also named to the All-USHL First Team. Osborn was a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Sabres and is currently ranked as the #16 prospect in the organization.
Osborn finished the season with 41 total points in 55 games for the Youngstown Phantoms, as he averaged 0.75 points per game. He finished fourth in the league in points, while logging a plus-minus of +10.
He finished the season on a high note, recording four goals and nine assists in his last 11 games as the Phantoms secured first place in the Eastern Conference. Osburn also recorded a goal and an assist in the playoffs before Youngstown was eliminated.
What's next for Osborn?
The Plymouth, Michigan native is committed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he’ll begin his college career this fall. Wisconsin is coming off a disappointing season where they saw themselves finish 13-21-3, and getting knocked out in the Big Ten Quarterfinals.
Osborn is joining a solid defensive core for Wisconsin as he will be one of three defensemen already drafted in the NHL. He will join sophomore Jack Phelan, who was drafted by the Red Wings, and junior Zach Shultz, who was drafted by the Islanders.
Osborn is getting put in the perfect situation as he is joining a team looking to rebuild and compete again in the Big Ten. He will most certainly be on the first or second line and will be playing against arguably the best competition in the country.
The Big Ten made up 25% of the field for the NCAA tournament this year, as they had four teams fighting for the title. Including Michigan State who was the number one team in the country to end the year.
The Sabres currently have the 11th-ranked farm system in the NHL. They have done a fantastic job drafting since Kevyn Adams came in, and it may be the only good thing he’s managed to do. Depending on how well Osborn performs with Wisconsin, there is a chance we could see him in Rochester in just a few years.