Sabres recall Östlund from Rochester, April 4, 2025

[K-9]

56 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

As opposed to what? 25mins/gm? #1 power play? 

Not sure this is about the Östlund call-up or not, but if it is, then as opposed to playing with less skilled players. It’s about putting him in the best position possible to showcase his playmaking skills with more highly skilled players than Lafferty and Malenstyn. It’s great that he can show his defensive game which he’s also good at, but it would be nice to see linemates who can actually take advantage of his playmaking. They should have done that with Rosen as well. 

[Night Train]

I like seeing the call-ups before they reserve tee off times. 

[Freeezo]

6 hours ago, K-9 said:

Welp. This team is so damned predictable. 

Lindy is a "u gotta earn it" type of coach

[PerreaultForever]

This is just a late season look see. Not unusual for teams to do this. Evaluate exactly where his progress is. I think it likely he needs another year in Rochester.

[Scottysabres]

This organization has a very real problem with destroying young, unprepared, talented players by throwing them in to the parent clubs disaster.

Let the kids develop without being subjected to this sideshow bob circus already Kevyn. You’ve done more than enough damage, why torture another round of this organizations future?

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, Scottysabres said:

This organization has a very real problem with destroying young, unprepared, talented players by throwing them in to the parent clubs disaster.

Let the kids develop without being subjected to this sideshow bob circus already Kevyn. You’ve done more than enough damage, why torture another round of this organizations future?

Again, there's just no proof this is true. One of buffalo's issues is players struggle in their age 22-25 seasons and Buffalo tosses them for the next shiny toy coming up. It's why you could trade Power, but only if the return is another massively talented player. Quinn and Peterka weren't rushed. Benson we could argue due to age but he's been holding his own. Power, idk if another year of college would help, a year in the ahl at this point seems superfluous. Tage is fine. Dahlin fine. That's pretty much it, everyone else we got older. 

[LGR4GM]

Kulich, I forgot him. Hmm, idk if Kulich was rushed, he spent 2 years in Rochester. 

Novikov is certainly not being rushed. Or Komarov. 

[Pimlach]

Lots of debate for a young player getting his first look.  
 

Starting off centering the 4th line is not going to hurt him.  This is a look, not a promotion.  Chances are he moves to another line once he gets the feel of the NHL.  

[SwampD]

Son of a gun,… I have a reason to watch today.

…. didn’t think that was going to happen,…

[kas23]

17 hours ago, inkman said:

By playing with the two worst players in the league. Congrats Noah!!

The Sabres are winning right now. You argued in another thread Novikov getting called up shouldn’t displace a roster spot on defense, which I agree with. It would be the epitome of Sabres hockey of the last 14 years for an AHL call-up to displace someone in the middle 6. Östlund is very likely better than anyone on our 4th line. If he want to move up the lines, he can earn it. 

[JohnC]

I've been reading the posts on this thread and surprised with the comments on it. A young prospect is getting an opportunity to play in the NHL. No question that injuries are a factor why he was brought up. What does it matter if he plays on the first or fourth line? Either way he will get some exposure to playing against faster, bigger and more talented players than he would in the lower league. And that should serve him well in preparing to get the NHL on a full-time basis and stay there when he gets the opportunity. 

As a fan, watching a prospect play, regardless of role, gives me more of a reason to watch this meaningless game, as @SwampD points out. Why anyone would be irritated with the line he is put on in what is basically an introduction stint is beyond me. And it should also be pointed out the Ruff jumbles lines throughout the game. And in end of game situations, he frequently sticks with the players who have played well in the game and sits players who he feels are liabilities. 

This season has been a disappointment. That can't be denied. But this depressing negativity, especially over such a trivial consideration, makes little sense. I, for one, am interested in watching this intriguing prospect even if it is for a limited amount of ice time. 

[LTS]

I'll be curious if he doesn't get a few shifts on other lines as well.  It's not like coaches don't adjust things in the middle of games.

I'm not concerned if he plays on the 4th line either.

Nothing that happens for the remainder of this season matters towards next year. So why even spend negative mental energy on it. He gets called up, this is good. Enjoy it along with him.

[shrader]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Lots of debate for a young player getting his first look.  
 

Starting off centering the 4th line is not going to hurt him.  This is a look, not a promotion.  Chances are he moves to another line once he gets the feel of the NHL.  

And let’s face it, we’re talking about one or two game here. If you did this for a quarter of a season, then you’d have some issues. 

[inkman]

3 hours ago, kas23 said:

The Sabres are winning right now. You argued in another thread Novikov getting called up shouldn’t displace a roster spot on defense, which I agree with. It would be the epitome of Sabres hockey of the last 14 years for an AHL call-up to displace someone in the middle 6. Östlund is very likely better than anyone on our 4th line. If he want to move up the lines, he can earn it. 

I haven’t mentioned Novikov since January.  

[Weave]

3 hours ago, kas23 said:

The Sabres are winning right now. You argued in another thread Novikov getting called up shouldn’t displace a roster spot on defense, which I agree with. It would be the epitome of Sabres hockey of the last 14 years for an AHL call-up to displace someone in the middle 6. Östlund is very likely better than anyone on our 4th line. If he want to move up the lines, he can earn it. 

 

14 minutes ago, inkman said:

I haven’t mentioned Novikov since January.  

Yeah, kas23 is thinking of me.  I was the one taking GA to task over calling up Novikov and sitting a healthy NHL player to do it.

This is different.  There is an injury and Östlund is next man up.

[kas23]

53 minutes ago, inkman said:

I haven’t mentioned Novikov since January.  

Your right. My bad. Was thinking of Inkman. 

[shrader]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

I haven’t mentioned Novikov since January.  

 

9 minutes ago, kas23 said:

Your right. My bad. Was thinking of Inkman.