With the 163rd pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres have selected Swedish goalie Linus Ullmark, finally breaking their run of centers.
Ullmark, who played for Modo, Jr. in the Swedish Jr. league, is a 6’3”, 198lbs netminder with a 2.76 GAA and .918 save percentage last season.
Here’s what Kris Baker of Sabres Prospects has to say:
Big and raw, the talented Ullmark enters his second draft year after an excellent season with Modo’s J20 squad that saw him post a solid 2.76 goals against average and .918 save percentage with the storied franchise. Ullmark’s play steadily improved throughout the season and into the playoffs, where he sparkled with a 2.24 GAA, .927 sv%, and one shutout in five starts.
And here’s what pro goalie scout and NHL.com writer Justin Goldman thinks about the pick:
With only two goaltenders in the pipeline, and both of those in Rochester next season, this pick shores up a quantity issue for the organization. It also follows the recent NHL trend of “bigger is better” in net. It’s also another European player for an organization that was almost afraid to draft one over the past five seasons.