Sabres sign Wahlberg to 3-year, entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Anton Wahlberg to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.

The Sabres selected Wahlberg, 18, during the second round of the NHL Draft in Nashville last month. He becomes the first member of Buffalo's 2023 draft class to sign his entry-level deal.

Wahlberg is expected to spend next season with the Swedish Hockey League's Malmo Redhawks, for whom he tallied four points (2+2) in 17 games in 2022-23. He had 27 points (14+13) in 32 games for Malmo's J20 team.

Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said following the draft that the team had attempted to trade into the first round to select Wahlberg before drafting him with the 39th pick. Their scouting staff closely tracked the 6-foot-3, 192-pound forward throughout his season and felt he improved as the year went on. Wahlberg capped the campaign with six points (3+3) in seven games to win silver at the U-18 World Championship.

"This was a guy that we had way up on our list," Adams said.

Buffalo director of amateur scouting Jerry Forton pointed to the fact that Wahlberg played meaningful minutes for Malmo during relegation play, with the club fighting to keep its place in the SHL, as a testament to his abilities.

"In Sweden, that's as much pressure as playing in the Stanley Cup Finals," Forton said. "… He's a kid that rises in the big moments. Not a perfect player yet, some inconsistency. Talented, fast, very skilled around the net. A hard player. You need it all to come together, but it's a special package."

Wahlberg made his debut in a Sabres uniform during development camp earlier this month.

"Being with the Buffalo Sabres has been amazing," he said. "I had a great few days. ... It's just been amazing to be here."