Here is a quick update on the players selected in 2022 not currently in the NHL:
Noah Ostlund – C – 16th overall
The 21-year-old center’s first full AHL season was derailed for nearly two months with a hand injury. He returned just before Christmas and went goalless in his first 10 games, but Ostlund has begun to produce at a high rate since the middle of February, scoring 11 goals in the last 15 games, including a hat trick on Saturday against Syracuse. In 40 games, the speedy Swede has 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists).
Topias Leinonen– G – 41st overall
The big 21-year-old Finn lost most of last season due to injury, playing just eight games between his Liiga club (JyP) and KeuPa in the second-level Mestis league. Leinonen shifted to Sweden this season and has been thriving with Mora IK as their primary starter in the second-level HockeyAllsvenskan, with a 13-10-0 record, 2.31 GAA, .910 save %, and four shutouts, during the regular season, and played well in a six-game loss to Djurgarden in the first round of the playoffs.
Viktor Neuchev – LW – 74th overall
After playing a full season in the KHL with Ekaterinburg Automobilst, Neuchev came to North America and started in Rochester in a depth role, but his role with the Amerks increased as the season progressed and he ended his rookie season with 28 points (11 goals,17 assists). This season, the 21-year-old was on pace to eclipse his rookie totals, with 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 39 games, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Vsevolod Komarov D - 134th overall
The Sabres may see a potential expedited pathway to the NHL as a right-handed blueliner on a predominantly left-handed defense corps, and they may be seeing his adjusting to the professional game at the American Hockey League level with Rochester at a similar pace as another big Russian prospect in Nikita Novikov.
In 58 games as a rookie, Komarov’s offensive game from junior has not translated as of yet (2 goals, 12 assists), but his physicality has been on display, leading the Amerks with 77 penalty minutes.
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