Sabres #39 pick: Anton Wahlberg, 6'3" Center

[bob_sauve28]

He's sort of this years version of JJ Peterka and Kulich 

[Doohicksie]

10 hours ago, Taro T said:

Interesting how Adams keeps landing his guy even when he can't trade up to get him.

Or is that just a story he tells to make the player feel better?

[sabresparaavida]

8 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

He's sort of this years version of JJ Peterka and Kulich 

Hopefully he shows to be as promising as they are.

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Or is that just a story he tells to make the player feel better?

Hmmmmmmm, could be.  😉

[Doohicksie]

24 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Hmmmmmmm, could be.  😉

In this case I thing it was true because Jerry Forton alluded to it too.

It was actually nice to hear the interview with Forton; you can tell how passionate he is about scouting, and it brings back his interview where he talked about much things improved under Kevyn.

[bob_sauve28]

29 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Or is that just a story he tells to make the player feel better?

Or to make them want to be here 🤔

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

In this case I thing it was true because Jerry Forton alluded to it too.

It was actually nice to hear the interview with Forton; you can tell how passionate he is about scouting, and it brings back his interview where he talked about much things improved under Kevyn.

Would be cool if the guy the Sabres wanted to trade up for 2 straight years ended up falling into their lap where they were.  But it could be like the story about when Murray wanted to offer all 3 2nd round picks in '14 for Tuch.  Well, yeah, but that was after he'd tried to trade up to grab Dylan Larkin.

Don't know if Kulich and Wahlberg were both THE targets last year and this (expect it was the case last year, don't really care if it was this year) but nothing wrong with letting the player think he was THE guy even if he wasn't.  He's the guy now.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

Or is that just a story he tells to make the player feel better?

It's the same story that every GM tells. They all must be reading from the same script. 🏒

[GrassValleyGreg]

I wonder if any of the prospect tracking models account for improvement over the draft year. I'm sure the Sabres models do but not so sure about the fan accounts. Everything I've read about Anton is how vastly he improved in 2023, which isn't shocking for a player who is 17. Either way, very excited to see his continued growth in the SHL and Worlds. 

 

[dudacek]

25 minutes ago, GrassValleyGreg said:

I wonder if any of the prospect tracking models account for improvement over the draft year. I'm sure the Sabres models do but not so sure about the fan accounts. Everything I've read about Anton is how vastly he improved in 2023, which isn't shocking for a player who is 17. Either way, very excited to see his continued growth in the SHL and Worlds. 

 

He was noticeable in a power forward way: obvious strength and speed driving to the net.

[Pimlach]

I saw him the morning in the development camp and he stood out to me.  Size, good speed, skilled and only 17.  
 

I think he could make it someday.