The Sabres drafted Wahlberg in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft
The Sabres drafted Wahlberg in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft
The Buffalo Sabres are considered one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, not only because of their selecting high in recent drafts but also due to their eye for talent and their organizational choices of either leaving players to develop in their home countries or bringing them to North America. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club’s top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.
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8. – ANTON WAHLBERG - RW (Malmo – SHL / Rochester - AHL)
Wahlberg was the Sabres second-round pick (39th overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. The Malmo, SWE native split time between his hometown junior-level and SHL club in his draft year, as well as playing for Sweden in the Five Nations and Under-18 World Championships. Last season, the 19-year-old played the full year in the SHL and was linemates with Sabres 2022 first-rounder Noah Ostlund at the 2024 IIHF World Junior in Gothenburg, where he had three points in seven WJC games.
After scoring 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 43 games and completing the SHL campaign, the big forward came to North America to play with Rochester. The 6’3”, 194 lb. Wahlberg fit in nicely in the AHL during his brief stint, with four points in nine regular-season games with the Amerks, and a goal in Rochester’s brief playoff stint.
The Hockey Prospect Black Book has Wahlberg rated as a C+ prospect and describes him as “a big kid who moves really well on the ice. He was always a powerful skater, but over the course of the season, we saw some improvements in his agility and edgework. Now he can burn past players with his outside speed but also cut back inside effortlessly.”
The Sabres believe that Wahlberg may be a better fit with the style played in North America than he was in Sweden, which is why he is slated to play a full season with the Amerks. It is also likely that he will play again for his country at the 2025 World Junior in Ottawa.
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