Prospect Info: C Noah Ostlund, 16th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft, Assigned to Rochester 4.17.24

[Der Jaeger]

You can teach adding weight though, and he needs it big.

If he plays in Rochester next season, he'll get the support.

 

[MOGlLNY]

what the hell are they doing over in Sweden that this kid is 20 and still 165 pounds

 

[Gabrielor]

If he plays in Rochester next season, he'll get the support.

I saw the flashes, I acknowledge what you guys see, but I still need that to translate into raw production.

I've seen that from Savoie, despite what feels like a week where everyone's arbitrarily down on him.

I've seen that from Kulich who's ahead of the curve on both, but I'm less certain on the ceiling.

I need to see this magical natural center everyone's bigged up for 2 years do more than this:

 

[Der Jaeger]

I saw the flashes, I acknowledge what you guys see, but I still need that to translate into raw production.

I've seen that from Savoie, despite what feels like a week where everyone's arbitrarily down on him.

I've seen that from Kulich who's ahead of the curve on both, but I'm less certain on the ceiling.

I need to see this magical natural center everyone's bigged up for 2 years do more than this:
View attachment 875226

There's tension in development even in youth hockey.

Average coaches will teach was they know.
Good coaches will teach what they can see.
Great coaches teach what they envision the future to be.

Lots of parents at the U12 and U14 level only talk about the physical kids. Big, fast, big shot, etc. I see it all the time. Winning completely off physical skills. There's a place for that, as sports are by nature physical. Most of the kids who make it fall into this category if they learn the game.

But then you've got the kids at that level who haven't hit puberty. They have to learn how to play without just winning physically. Those kids take a lot longer to develop, but when they turn 17-18 years old, they end up being the better player because they learned how to play. The comment I hear from US development coaches and scouts is "the puck is always going the right way" when they see one of these kids.

Extending that to prospects, you can see the same thing. Kulich is physical built for a power game and has a great shot. Savoie has amazing leg drive and stick handling, which drives his play making. Ostlund isn't developed yet, but you can see how he makes everyone around him better. The puck is always going the right way.

Casey Mittelstadt has a great hockey mind but his body took forever to catch up, along with terrible management by the Sabres. There are some really good players in the NHL who took a long time to get there, who also didn't have elite physical traits to rely on.

- Elias Lindholm didn't breakout until he was 24 and after he was traded to Calgary.
- William Karlsson didn't breakout until he was 25 and with Vegas.
- Trocheck didn't breakout until he was 24.
- You can make an argument that RNH didn't breakout until he was 26.
- Pettersson didn't break out until he was 24.

I think Ostlund will fall into this category. I think his physical development is going to take a while. I'd keep him in the SHL as long as possible and then move him into the AHL. I'd target about age 21-22 for his first NHL minutes. Basically, the reverse Mittelstadt plan.

The Sabres are logjammed with forward prospects, so there's no need to rush anyone. Ostlund is a kid they really need to be patient with to get his best.

 

[Gabrielor]

There's tension in development even in youth hockey.

Average coaches will teach was they know.
Good coaches will teach what they see.
Great coaches teach what they envision the future to be.

Lots of parents at the U12 and U14 level only talk about the physical kids. Big, fast, big shot, etc. I see it all the time. Winning completely off physical skills. There's a place for that, as sports are by nature physical. Most of the kids who make it fall into this category if they learn the game.

But then you've got the kids at that level who haven't hit puberty. They have to learn how to play without just winning physically. Those kids take a lot longer to develop, but when they turn 17-18 years old, they end up being the better player because they learned how to play. The comment I hear from US development coaches and scouts is "the puck is always going the right way" when they see one of these kids.

Extending that to prospects, you can see the same thing. Kulich is physical built for a power game and has a great shot. Savoie has amazing leg drive and stick handling, which drives his play making. Ostlund isn't developed yet, but you can see how he makes everyone around him better. The puck is always going the right way.

Casey Mittelstadt has a great hockey mind but his body took forever to catch up, along with terrible management by the Sabres. There are some really good players in the NHL who took a long time to get there, who also didn't have elite physical traits to rely on.

- Elias Lindholm didn't breakout until he was 24 and after he was traded to Calgary.
- William Karlsson didn't breakout until he was 25 and with Vegas.
- Trocheck didn't breakout until he was 24.
- You can make an argument that RNH didn't breakout until he was 26.
- Pettersson didn't break out until he was 24.

I think Ostlund will fall into this category. I think his physical development is going to take a while. I'd keep him in the SHL as long as possible and then move him into the AHL. I'd target about age 21-22 for his first NHL minutes. Basically, the reverse Mittelstadt plan.

The Sabres are logjammed with forward prospects, so there's no need to rush anyone. Ostlund is a kid they really need to be patient with to get his best.

One of the best posts I've ever read on this site.

I haven't been much for including Ostlund in trade ideas, mainly because Rosen and 11 make more sense, but this is really going to bat for a guy.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

what the hell are they doing over in Sweden that this kid is 20 and still 165 pounds

Surströmming

 

[Selanne00008]

There's tension in development even in youth hockey.

Average coaches will teach was they know.
Good coaches will teach what they can see.
Great coaches teach what they envision the future to be.

Lots of parents at the U12 and U14 level only talk about the physical kids. Big, fast, big shot, etc. I see it all the time. Winning completely off physical skills. There's a place for that, as sports are by nature physical. Most of the kids who make it fall into this category if they learn the game.

But then you've got the kids at that level who haven't hit puberty. They have to learn how to play without just winning physically. Those kids take a lot longer to develop, but when they turn 17-18 years old, they end up being the better player because they learned how to play. The comment I hear from US development coaches and scouts is "the puck is always going the right way" when they see one of these kids.

Extending that to prospects, you can see the same thing. Kulich is physical built for a power game and has a great shot. Savoie has amazing leg drive and stick handling, which drives his play making. Ostlund isn't developed yet, but you can see how he makes everyone around him better. The puck is always going the right way.

Casey Mittelstadt has a great hockey mind but his body took forever to catch up, along with terrible management by the Sabres. There are some really good players in the NHL who took a long time to get there, who also didn't have elite physical traits to rely on.

- Elias Lindholm didn't breakout until he was 24 and after he was traded to Calgary.
- William Karlsson didn't breakout until he was 25 and with Vegas.
- Trocheck didn't breakout until he was 24.
- You can make an argument that RNH didn't breakout until he was 26.
- Pettersson didn't break out until he was 24.

I think Ostlund will fall into this category. I think his physical development is going to take a while. I'd keep him in the SHL as long as possible and then move him into the AHL. I'd target about age 21-22 for his first NHL minutes. Basically, the reverse Mittelstadt plan.

The Sabres are logjammed with forward prospects, so there's no need to rush anyone. Ostlund is a kid they really need to be patient with to get his best.

Great post.

Best analogy non hockey is the ugly duck that turns to a beautiful swan in college. They've got the personality behind he braces and tangled hair. Just takes time and then all of a sudden, your senior year in college you're like WAIT, I went to HS with HER?! Great personality, and now have the looks too. (Mitts, Karlsson)

Rather than the hottie in HS that is a B, and now she gained the sophomore 60 and has a brutal personality to boot. (Zagrapan).

 

[Panthaz89]

I saw the flashes, I acknowledge what you guys see, but I still need that to translate into raw production.

I've seen that from Savoie, despite what feels like a week where everyone's arbitrarily down on him.

I've seen that from Kulich who's ahead of the curve on both, but I'm less certain on the ceiling.

I need to see this magical natural center everyone's bigged up for 2 years do more than this:
View attachment 875226

The SHL is a tougher league than the AHL to score in.

 

[Reddawg]

Great post.

Best analogy non hockey is the ugly duck that turns to a beautiful swan in college. They've got the personality behind he braces and tangled hair. Just takes time and then all of a sudden, your senior year in college you're like WAIT, I went to HS with HER?! Great personality, and now have the looks too. (Mitts, Karlsson)

Rather than the hottie in HS that is a B, and now she gained the sophomore 60 and has a brutal personality to boot. (Zagrapan).

Sure, just when I finally get over Zagrapan and the 2005 draft in general naturally you go and dredge him up from the dead and now I’m all mad again.

 

[HaNotsri]

what the hell are they doing over in Sweden that this kid is 20 and still 165 pounds

Speed and cardio is much more important in the shl. AHL guys can almost never keep up the first year as an example and chubby liiga players have to trim the fat.

Secondary sports like bandy, soccer, skiing and alpine sports doesn't really help you bulk.

 

[Jim Bob]

Before first season with Amerks, Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund dazzles in NHL - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund dazzled throughout Saturday’s 6-3 loss, recording three assists in a game in which Columbus dressed a regular NHL lineup.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

 

[toddkaz]

Before first season with Amerks, Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund dazzles in NHL - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund dazzled throughout Saturday’s 6-3 loss, recording three assists in a game in which Columbus dressed a regular NHL lineup.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

Defensively responsible two-way centers are Sweden's bread and butter and perfect for what this team is missing.

 

[Faceboner]

Defensively responsible two-way centers are Sweden's bread and butter and perfect for what this team is missing.

Is it possible him and kulich were steals of the draft due to the lockout? Would any one be surprised if they turn out to be top ten talents of the redraft? Ostlund has hands,vision,iq,two way ability and superb skating and all those traits are near elite what's stopping people from projecting him as a potential 1c, the size?

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Is it possible him and kulich were steals of the draft due to the lockout? Would any one be surprised if they turn out to be top ten talents of the redraft? Ostlund has hands,vision,iq,two way ability and superb skating and all those traits are near elite what's stopping people from projecting him as a potential 1c, the size?

2022 will have a few steals, but 2021 is gonna have a lot of them. Simply due to the minimal amount of scouting that was able to be done on players in their draft year. So if some teams miss, I’m not gonna hold it against them. After all it’s not the 2015 Bruins draft where even a blind person disagreed with 2/3 of their picks.

Hell Debrusk, Chabot and Barzal woulda been a steal of a draft. Regardless of the rest of what they did.

 

[Faceboner]

2022 will have a few steals, but 2021 is gonna have a lot of them. Simply due to the minimal amount of scouting that was able to be done on players in their draft year. So if some teams miss, I’m not gonna hold it against them. After all it’s not the 2015 Bruins draft where even a blind person disagreed with 2/3 of their picks.

Hell Debrusk, Chabot and Barzal woulda been a steal of a draft. Regardless of the rest of what they did.

I can't believe they destroyed themselves that badly with those picks. Thankfully they did imagine having to deal with them having:
Barzal
Connor
Chabot
Along with pasta, Marchand, McAvoy they might have won a cup or two which is why you should always draft seriously despite how good you think your team is.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I can't believe they destroyed themselves that badly with those picks. Thankfully they did imagine having to deal with them having:
Barzal
Connor
Chabot
Along with pasta, Marchand, McAvoy they might have won a cup or two which is why you should always draft seriously despite how good you think your team is.

That same 2015 draft they also got Carlo.

Seriously thank god they thought they were smarter than everyone.