With training camp just around the corner, the Buffalo Sabres announced that young forward Noah Ostlund has inked an eight-year extension with an AAV of $6.6 million. This represents a handsome raise for the 22-year-old who has seen his role with the Sabres grow in the last couple of seasons, with Ostlund entering the last year of his current three-year deal an AAV of just $886,666.
Ostlund played in eight games in Buffalo in the 2024-25 season but became indispensable with the Rochester Americans, going 45GP 19G 17A 36pts. However, last season he made the step up and scored 3G and 7A in ten games for the Amerks, but spent the majority of the time with the Sabres playing in 60 games, with 11G and 16A for 27 points in all. It was in the playoffs though that he made the biggest impression, and irreversibly turned the series against the Boston Bruins in the Sabres favor in just three games before he went out injured. Buffalo could have certainly used him in the tight series to come with the Montreal Canadiens when they were edged out in overtime of Game 7.
The Swedish-born forward is expected to stay in Buffalo this season and compete for a spot in the top six, and extending him at a cost-controlled rate represents excellent value again for the Sabres who have built up a stable of young talent all at reasonable cap hits.
It does appear that the Sabres’ comparable for the extension they handed Ostlund was Frank Nazar of the Chicago Blackhawks, who was given a 7-year extension last summer for $6.60M AAV, and he potted 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points in 66 games last season.
What is fascinating about this contract is that it’s more in the line of the “Dylan Cozens / Tage Thompson” style max-term roll of the dice—buying up almost entirely UFA years based on projection rather than the traditional 2-to-3-year bridge deals at a lower dollar amount. Clearly Ostlund also believes in whatever Jarmo Kekäläinen is selling because he is choosing to commit his long-term future to Buffalo.