Östlund 8 year extension

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

So Jarmo was in Sweden this summer to monitor Östlund’s training.

Made reference to seeing other kids with similar body types bulk up through training and seemed to suggest Noah was on that path.

Twice referred to him as a core piece.

Also wonder if we’re going to see more of him playing centre this year. Jarmo seemed impressed with how both he and Helenius did in their late-season stints in the middle while wondering if the centre-ice pace is best for Tage.

 

I wonder how good Jarmo's Swedish is. Just out of curiosity. 

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Almost definitely will be a step back early in the year from Byram; but early in the year the Sabres had Byram and Kesselring, so even early in the year the new whole may be more than the sum of the parts of the original whole.  Within a couple of seasons and ideally, though not expectedly, by Christmas, the whole will be better than the whole with Byram and Stanley was.

What was curious in the Byram situation was that Jarmo seemed to think he could sign him to a new contract. I am not sure why he thought that given Byram's statements and the 2 year bridge he signed the year before. Jarmo did seem to make lemonade out of a lemon but when did he conclude Byram was either one and done or on the trade block? Did he know this before Tuch was not signed. Would it have made a difference? Maybe not but for a guy who seems pretty direct in his answers it seems odd that he would state that he was interested in Byram's retention when I think he should have known otherwise.  

[dudacek]

3 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

What was curious in the Byram situation was that Jarmo seemed to think he could sign him to a new contract. I am not sure why he thought that given Byram's statements and the 2 year bridge he signed the year before. Jarmo did seem to make lemonade out of a lemon but when did he conclude Byram was either one and done or on the trade block? Did he know this before Tuch was not signed. Would it have made a difference? Maybe not but for a guy who seems pretty direct in his answers it seems odd that he would state that he was interested in Byram's retention when I think he should have known otherwise.  

I read that simply as Jarmo knowing where Byram's head was at, but hoping this season's success and further talks might change his mind. Speaking about it publicly was just about getting it out there on the record that the Sabres wanted Byram to stay.

I mean, the Parayko trade was pretty obviously made with Byram's likely departure in mind.

[shrader]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I wonder how good Jarmo's Swedish is. Just out of curiosity. 

 

Add Jarmo’s face and Benson’s face. Make it happen. 

[PerreaultForever]

10 hours ago, JohnC said:

Very often, the issue when comparing players isn't which player is better than the other but rather which player improves your lineup more. As @nfreeman noted, there is no question that Östlund has better hockey instincts. While unquestionably JJP is the better goal scorer, he doesn't come close to matching Östlund's set up skills that enhance his linemates. And although it is recognized that JJP is better in shooting the puck, he is a liability when it comes to covering the player he is supposed to. In a one for one trade, the Sabres improved more with the addition of Doan than with the loss of JJP.  

Ya that's all reasonable but I'm not interested in evaluating the trade. My comment was really only that the money Peterka got, which seemed outrageous at the time, is now no big deal and everybody is getting 6 or 7 or more if they have a ceiling league wide. 

Now this is not a complete comparison but my fear on Östlund is a little because of what i saw with Boston and Poitras. He was a similar high IQ high skill guy with a slight frame and seemed really promising but then got his shoulder smacked good and is now a maybe maybe not guy on a 2 way deal who might get waived. Not in any way saying that would happen to Östlund but a similar drop off might occur with his body type. That's my fear. 

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I think Peterka will improve the Bruins rush offense and he is fine on defense. If they think they are getting Pasta light, they would be mistaken. Peterka being a 50+pt player and having 25g wouldn't surprise me. That all said, Dahlin IMPO wanted him of this team and now Utah cut ties with him. There is something else going on there but maybe a trade can fix it. Sometimes guys just don't fit in one place. 

Did Dahlin want him off the team? Is that true? I don't remember him saying that anywhere but I might have missed it. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Ya that's all reasonable but I'm not interested in evaluating the trade. My comment was really only that the money Peterka got, which seemed outrageous at the time, is now no big deal and everybody is getting 6 or 7 or more if they have a ceiling league wide. 

Now this is not a complete comparison but my fear on Östlund is a little because of what i saw with Boston and Poitras. He was a similar high IQ high skill guy with a slight frame and seemed really promising but then got his shoulder smacked good and is now a maybe maybe not guy on a 2 way deal who might get waived. Not in any way saying that would happen to Östlund but a similar drop off might occur with his body type. That's my fear. 

Did Dahlin want him off the team? Is that true? I don't remember him saying that anywhere but I might have missed it. 

He never outright said he wanted him gone / was glad he was gone; but there definitely was a vibe to that effect.

[Weave]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Ya that's all reasonable but I'm not interested in evaluating the trade. My comment was really only that the money Peterka got, which seemed outrageous at the time, is now no big deal and everybody is getting 6 or 7 or more if they have a ceiling league wide. 

Now this is not a complete comparison but my fear on Östlund is a little because of what i saw with Boston and Poitras. He was a similar high IQ high skill guy with a slight frame and seemed really promising but then got his shoulder smacked good and is now a maybe maybe not guy on a 2 way deal who might get waived. Not in any way saying that would happen to Östlund but a similar drop off might occur with his body type. That's my fear. 

Did Dahlin want him off the team? Is that true? I don't remember him saying that anywhere but I might have missed it. 

 

Just now, Taro T said:

He never outright said he wanted him gone / was glad he was gone; but there definitely was a vibe to that effect.

I think the speculation mostly came from late, late in the previous season.  The team was trying to end with a flourish and JJP made a lazy play, had a lazy skate to the bench and the camera caught Dahlin furiously chewing JJP out on the bench.  The season ended very shortly after, and JJP was off the roster before the next season.

[dudacek]

Fairburn reporting Leone told him Östlund has packed on 10-15 pounds.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

 

Now this is not a complete comparison but my fear on Östlund is a little because of what i saw with Boston and Poitras. He was a similar high IQ high skill guy with a slight frame and seemed really promising but then got his shoulder smacked good and is now a maybe maybe not guy on a 2 way deal who might get waived. Not in any way saying that would happen to Östlund but a similar drop off might occur with his body type. That's my fear. 

Did Dahlin want him off the team? Is that true? I don't remember him saying that anywhere but I might have missed it. 

I don’t see Östlund as small anymore.  He is 5’11” and 180+.  I don’t see a slight frame, it looks about average for his size. He is 22 and he will still grow and gain strength.  His skating skills and his high hockey IQ will help him play with leverage, which converts to strength.  

On the Dahlin/Peterka thing, there were times when Dahlin was clearly upset with Peterka’s effort in games and he let him know it, which people see and it gets on that internet thing.  

[Pimlach]

32 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Fairburn reporting Leone told him Östlund has packed on 10-15 pounds.

10-15 lbs in one off season sounds not right.  He was listed at 180, which I thought was his weight last season. 

But great news to hear he is bulking up. 

[DarthEbriate]

35 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

10-15 lbs in one off season sounds not right.  He was listed at 180, which I thought was his weight last season. 

But great news to hear he is bulking up. 

Sabres.com listing him at 180#, and his draft weight was 165#. The 15 is right, the single summer is unlikely (heck, the Sabres had him at 185 last training camp which also seems unlikely).

[French Collection]

8 hours ago, Pimlach said:

10-15 lbs in one off season sounds not right.

I can put on 10lbs in about a month, lol.

He’s probably 180-185 but looking more solid.

[Flashsabre]

Man I love his game. Great playmaker, really solid defensively. He is a pure centre and needs to stick there. 
 

The part of his game that has really caught my eye is his ability to snipe. His onetimer is a thing of beauty.

If they want the PP to take off then he needs to be on it. He has the natural playmaking ability they desperately need there. I would go:

Dahlin-Tage-Benson-Östlund-Doan or Zucker for net front.

[triumph_communes]

15# is a lot to add in one off season. I’m worried now 

[Doohickie]

On 9/27/2026 at 3:23 AM, triumph_communes said:

15# is a lot to add in one off season. I’m worried now 

[SabresFan69420]

On 9/27/2026 at 9:23 AM, triumph_communes said:

15# is a lot to add in one off season. I’m worried now 

15 pounds is a lot for a normal adult but you have to remember he’s young, has a professional trainer, and I assume nutritionist. Under those circumstances that’s not too outlandish 

[triumph_communes]

9 hours ago, SabresFan69420 said:

15 pounds is a lot for a normal adult but you have to remember he’s young, has a professional trainer, and I assume nutritionist. Under those circumstances that’s not too outlandish 

It’s his game I’m worried for. 

[Doohickie]

1 hour ago, triumph_communes said:

It’s his game I’m worried for. 

Did you even watch the preseason?  He's one of the few players on the team that looked like he was in midseason form already.

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, triumph_communes said:

It’s his game I’m worried for. 

The 15 pounds was added since he was drafted, not in one off season.  

He was one of the few that looked good in preseason.  

[SabreFinn]

On 9/16/2026 at 8:47 PM, LGR4GM said:

I wonder how good Jarmo's Swedish is. Just out of curiosity. 

A late answer, I have never heard him speak swedish, he might still know some since he played in Västerås, Sweden. But Swedes are usually good at english.