Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Buffalo Sabres' 2023 second-round pick Anton Wahlberg has come a long way in a short period of time.
In January of 2022, Wahlberg wasn’t on the radar for NHL teams. He wasn’t even on Team Sweden’s radar yet, but by April of 2023, he was playing for his country at the IIHF U-18 World Championship in Switzerland. And not only was he playing, he played very well, scoring three goals and three assists for six points in seven games.
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
Sabres director of amateur scouting Jerry Forton says the big forward got on their radar this past September. The kid improved so much, general manager Kevyn Adams tried to trade back into the first round this year to take him.
After failing to even be able to move up in the second round, the Sabres were shocked to see the 6-foot-3, 194 pounder available to them at Pick 39. Not only was he picked by the Sabres, he’s the only player from the Sabres' 2023 draft class that has signed his entry-level contract.
Related
Wahlberg can play center or wing, and feels it’s because he can play well at both ends of the ice.
"I think I’m a two-way forward, and can play both positions. I can carry the puck with speed," said Wahlberg during his time in Buffalo at Sabres Development Camp.
Wahlberg thinks because the rink is smaller, he’d be a better winger in the NHL.
Wahlberg played 32 games with the Malmö Redhawks' J20 team, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points before getting promoted to play for the parent club in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). While there, as a 17-year-old, he got to play against men and he loved the experience.
"It’s a big thing in Sweden to sign a contract with the best team, and it was just fun," Wahlberg said. "It helped me a lot to get more and more experience at center."
Forton talked about how Wahlberg gets better in big games, and then excels even more late in those big games. He also spoke of how smart Wahlberg is as a player.
To illustrate this, when Wahlberg spoke about playing with the U-18 team, he says he was up and down, and then was at his best in the semifinals and the finals for Sweden.
Wahlberg was very noticeable earlier in July at Development Camp. He was fast, but he was a lot shiftier than I had thought.
In the 3-on-3 tournament, he put on some great moves to break in on goal and, true to form, score a gorgeous goal late to help his team win.
Looking back on his week at Sabres Development Camp, Wahlberg loved being in Buffalo.
"To be with the Buffalo Sabres, it’s been amazing. I had a great few days on the ice and off the ice," Wahlberg said.
"We got to know each other better, we went out to lunch and just got to know each other. Everybody came from different countries, and it’s cool to find out how they play, and how they have it on their home team."
Despite signing with Buffalo, Wahlberg said he has one more year in Sweden with Malmö.
"After that, I want to talk to the Buffalo Sabres to see what’s the best option for me and why. Just listen to what they have to say," he said.
If Wahlberg was to come over in 2024, he’d likely join 2022 first-round pick Noah Ostlund with the Rochester Americans. Ostlund will play his second year in Sweden after being drafted, which was his plan all along.
