Noah Ostlund just got a massive vote of confidence from the Buffalo Sabres, and Lindy Ruff now has another young core piece locked into the long-term plan.
B/R Open Ice reported Monday that Buffalo signed the 22-year-old center to an 8-year contract carrying a $6.6 million AAV.
That commitment jumps off the page because Ostlund has only 68 regular-season NHL games on his résumé. He produced 11 goals and 16 assists last season, finishing with 27 points in 60 games.
Buffalo clearly isn't paying only for what Ostlund has already done. The Sabres are betting on what the former first-round pick can become in Ruff's lineup.
Ostlund also went plus-11 during his first full NHL season. His offensive role included 2 power-play goals and 4 power-play assists, giving Buffalo another reason to believe more production is coming.
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And there is real pressure attached to this deal. An 8-year term at that price moves Ostlund from promising young forward to player Buffalo expects to become a major part of its top six.
Buffalo makes a huge long-term bet
The timing matters just as much. According to the report, Monday was Buffalo's final window to secure the maximum 8-year term before the limit drops to 7 years.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen didn't arrive in Buffalo to sit on the fence with the core. This move puts a major financial marker on Ostlund before his next offensive jump.
Buffalo can afford to think aggressively after a 50-23-9 season that produced 109 points. The Sabres finished with a +47 goal differential, giving management a strong base to build around.
Ostlund also gave Buffalo a glimpse of playoff production with 2 points in 3 postseason games. That was a small sample, but it added another layer to the organization's long-term evaluation.
There is one immediate wrinkle heading toward camp. Ostlund is listed day-to-day with a lower-body issue and questionable for the start of the season.
That won't change the bigger message. Buffalo has pushed its chips toward Ostlund becoming a high-end center, and a $6.6 million cap hit makes patience harder to sell if the offense stalls.
For Ostlund, the prospect phase is over. The Sabres just paid him like a long-term core player, and the next step is making that contract look smart fast.
Did the Sabres overpay Noah Ostlund with this 8-year deal?
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