Buffalo Sabres bank on Noah Ostlund’s potential by signing 22-year-old to 8-year, $52.8M contract

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres are banking on forward Noah Ostlund’s potential by signing the 22-year-old to an eight-year, $52.8 million contract, the team announced Monday.

The sizable terms of the contract reflects the confidence the Sabres have in a player who made significant strides last year in his rookie season. He finished with 11 goals and 27 points in 60 regular-season games, and then added a goal and assist in three playoff outings.

The Sabres are projecting Ostlund to fill a top-two line role this season as either a center or winger. The Sweden native was selected 16th in the 2022 draft and is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

He is now regarded as a key piece of Buffalo’s 27-and-younger core that includes forwards Josh Doan, Zach Benson and Josh Norris and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power — all of whom are under contract through at least 2030.