Here is a quick update on the players selected in 2022 not currently in the NHL:
Noah Ostlund – C – 16th overall
The 21-year-old center’s first full AHL season was derailed for nearly two months with a hand injury. He returned just before Christmas and went goalless in his first 10 games, but Ostlund has begun to produce at a high rate since the middle of February, scoring 11 goals in the last 15 games. Soon after, he was recalled by the Sabres and played the final eight NHL games in Buffalo. In 45 games with the Amerks, he scored 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games in the regular season, and has two assists in five games.
Topias Leinonen– G – 41st overall
The big 21-year-old Finn lost most of last season due to injury, playing just eight games between his Liiga club (JyP) and KeuPa in the second-level Mestis league. Leinonen shifted to Sweden this season and thrived with Mora IK as their primary starter in the second-level HockeyAllsvenskan, with a 13-10-0 record, 2.31 GAA, .910 save %, and four shutouts during the regular season, and played well in a six-game loss to Djurgarden in the first round of the playoffs.
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Viktor Neuchev – LW – 74th overall
After playing a full season in the KHL with Ekaterinburg Automobilist, Neuchev came to North America and started in Rochester in a depth role, but his role with the Amerks increased as the season progressed, and he ended his rookie season with 28 points (11 goals,17 assists). This season, the 21-year-old was on pace to eclipse his rookie totals, with 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 39 games, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Vsevolod Komarov D - 134th overall
The Sabres may see a potential expedited pathway to the NHL as a right-handed blueliner on a predominantly left-handed defense corps, and they may be seeing his adjusting to the professional game at the American Hockey League level with Rochester at a similar pace as another big Russian prospect in Nikita Novikov.
In 69 games as a rookie, Komarov’s offensive game from junior has not translated as of yet (2 goals, 16 assists), but his physicality has been on display, leading the Amerks with 85 penalty minutes.
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