He suited up for 51 AHL games last year and then scored his first NHL goal when he was called up for the final three games of the season. He was also a top player for Team Sweden at the World Junior tournament, where he recorded seven points (1+6) in seven games en route to a silver medal.
He'll look to use those experiences to help him make the Sabres roster this season and continue to headline the recent influx of Swedish-born players.
Rasmus Asplund, Victor Olofsson and Lawrence Pilut, all of whom played professionally in the Swedish Hockey League last season, have made the jump across the pond. It'll be the first season in North America for each player.
At 20, Asplund (2016, second round) wrapped up his third season playing against men and posted 28 points (8+20) in 50 games. Olofsson, 23, led the SHL in goals with 27 markers in 50 games. Pilut, 22, a left-shot blueliner, was named the SHL's Defenseman of the Year and signed an entry-level contract with the Sabres as a free agent (fun fact: Pilut's father was an American forward who played in Sweden for 17 years and then went into coaching).
Olofsson, a seventh-round pick in 2014, has blossomed into a scoring threat with a buzz-worthy shot.
Watch: Youtube Video
"I would say he's become a terrific prospect, really," assistant general manager Randy Sexton after the French Connection Tournament in June. "It's a big step from the Swedish Elite League to the National Hockey League. But for him, what he brings is an NHL release. We saw glimpses of it today, saw lots of evidence for it during the week.
"He's got an NHL release and he's got a nose for the net. He'll need some time to transition to the North American game but we're very excited about the offensive capabilities that he brings."
Andrew Oglevie and Brandon Hickey are products of the NCAA and will make their professional debuts this fall.
"I had interest from a few NHL teams, but Buffalo seemed like the best opportunity," Oglevie said. "Management seemed to know me and what type of player I could become best. Plus, I grew up playing with a lot of Buffalo natives who had plenty of good things to say about the city. I knew I'd fit in right away. So far, it's been a perfect fit."
Defenseman Will Borgen and center Vasily Glotov will enter their first full professional seasons after getting a taste of AHL action last year. Borgen (2015, fourth round) signed his entry-level deal on March 25 and played eight games for the Amerks while Glotov (2016, seventh round) signed an AHL deal after running out of junior hockey eligibility. Glotov skated in one AHL game and posted two points (1+1) in five ECHL games with Cincinnati.
Also of note, goaltender Linus Ullmark will share the net with Carter Hutton in Buffalo. Among rookie forwards, Danny O'Regan, C.J. Smith and Kyle Criscuolo have seen action with the Sabres over the last two seasons and will compete for playing time.
We'll have more on the players who will likely shape the Amerks roster in a Camp Preview feature this weekend.