The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. 117 readers ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2025. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player.
Noah Östlund
Drafted: 2022, BUF (16th overall), 1st round
Position: Forward
Born: 3/11/2004 (Age: 21) Stockholm, SWE
2024-2025 stats: GP 45 G 19 A 17 PTS 36 (Rochester Americans) No points in 8 games with Buffalo
2024 T25U25 Ranking: Östlund was ranked 14th one year ago.
The Buffalo Sabres have a dynamic and shifty prospect on their hands in Noah Östlund. But with his limited size, he will need to showcase that and more to become an NHL regular. At 5’11” and just 174 pounds, his top-notch hockey sense will be a necessity to navigate the league. That and the need to gain body mass. Just look at his picture above, is he not swimming in that Buffalo jersey? Time to pack on some pounds, little buddy. He is done growing vertically at 21 years old but hopefully gains some additional muscle soon.
From watching his highlights, I thought this quote accurately reflected Östlund’s game: “He plays with intensity and is always on the move. He is equal parts creativity with a high-end work rate” EPRinkside.com 2021
There is no doubting the kid’s talent. Noah is a great playmaker and always puts in the effort. After a slow start, he nearly buried 20 goals for the Amerks in just 45 games. It was his first taste of professional hockey and he looked like a pro. He also played lights out for Sweden in two U20 tournaments in his previous season. (WJC-20 and International-Jr.) Östlund picked up 27 points in the 19 combined games.
This top prospect has another season of Amerks’ hockey in front of him, and big things are expected. With 36 points in only 45 games as an AHL rookie, he will be looked upon as an offensive leader for Rochester. He will also be a top 2 or 3 call-up option for Buffalo, depending on the need. Noah’s 8 games with the Sabres last season were uneventful, but should not discourage him.
The skill, the effort and a strong hockey sense are all there. Right now, Östlund’s main obstacle is his underwelming size. His height is not ideal, but that should not hold him back at all. It’s that light-weight 174 pounds I’m referring to. The Sabres new strength trainer better sink his teeth into him. By comparison, Amerks’ teammate Konsta Helenius is just as tall as Noah but he weighs in at 190 pounds. Helenius is also two years younger. Östlund needs to fill up and fill out, starting right now. If he puts on ten pounds of mostly muscle, his NHL career will be waiting for him.