Melvin Novotny, an 18-year-old hockey player from Taby, Sweden, was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Shortly after being drafted, he received a congratulatory message from fellow Swede and Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund. This initiated a friendship that helped Novotny adjust to his new environment.
Novotny attended the Sabres development camp days after being drafted and found support among other Swedish players in the organization, including Isak Rosen and Anton Wahlberg. “I enjoyed having three Swedes there being able to talk to them in my own language and them just almost making the same journey as me, getting drafted to Buffalo and then playing in North America,” Novotny said. “… It’s cool to see what kind of pathway I want to make, too. And I want to make the AHL team, and I want to play in the NHL soon too.”
Adjusting to North American hockey required changes for Novotny, particularly adapting from Sweden’s wider Olympic-size rink to the narrower American rink dimensions. He previously played with Rosen for Leksands IF junior team in Sweden; both grew up near Stockholm and trained together during summers.
Rosen noted Novotny’s readiness for North American play: “He obviously told me about the more physical game,” Novotny said. “First time at the Prospect Challenge, he told me that there was going to be people hitting you all the time. You got to look around, have your head up all the time. … He just showed me what it looks like over here. He taught me a lot about the AHL and NHL, what the process is working up and always trying to take the next step.”
After participating in international tournaments such as the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Championship, Novotny decided he wanted to pursue college hockey rather than return home or stay another year in Sweden. In July he committed to play for University of Massachusetts but signed with Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) on June 13 following discussions between his agent and Muskegon president Steve Lowe.
Muskegon head coach Colten St. Clair praised Novotny’s approach: “He’s just a really good human being and fun to be around,” St. Clair said. “He’s got a confidence of no matter where you’re from, it’s still life, and it’s still the game of hockey. … Just how hard he works, and the willingness to want to really dig in.
“He’s an NHL draft pick, so within that, he’s got even more pressure on him. It’s his first time in North America, and now you just got drafted, so it’s a double whammy. If you ask me, it’s just a day-to-day process, but I think he feels pretty comfortable now, and that’s why his game’s taken off.”
Novotny currently leads Muskegon with 15 points (seven goals and eight assists) over 13 games this season—ranking tied for eighth among USHL scorers—and has recorded five multi-point performances so far.
He credits his progress largely to trust from coaches including three-time Stanley Cup winner Pat Maroon: “To be honest, I work really hard, I do a lot of extra work, and I think there’s nothing else behind it than that,” Novotny said. “I want to learn every day. I’m very dialed in on every practice, workout, and I do video, and I think that’s the secret behind it.”
Novotny attributes much of his work ethic to his father Boris who won silver at the 2005 European Judo Championships: “He knows how much work you got to put in to get good,” he said. “That’s what he always has taught me—to work hard and stay humble because you can’t really ever get satisfied.”
Recently Novotny started working with Sabres staff on improving his skating technique after discussions with development coach Tim Kennedy led him through new drills provided by skills instructor Mike Ansell: “I’m working on them right now which I feel like are helping me out a lot,” he said.
Novotny is expected this season in USHL play—after tallying 38 points last year for Leksands IF J20—to surpass previous career highs while also representing Sweden internationally at events such as World Junior A Challenge or Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Looking ahead toward future opportunities with Team Sweden at World Juniors—a path followed by Rosen,Ostlund,and Wahlberg—Novotny stated:“Yeah of course that’s my goal.I have two years now,two chances tomake The team so hopefully Imake The team atleast once.”
In other news regarding Buffalo Sabres prospects:
– Goaltender Scott Ratzlaff began strong with Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL), earning ECHL Rookie of The Month honors for October after posting high save percentages early this season.
– Another goalie within The Sabres system Devon Levi started well with Rochester Americans(AHL), recording five straight wins,a shutout,and contributing To Rochester’s second-place standing In Their division.
– Defenseman Maxim Strbak continues developing at Michigan State(NCAA), ranking second On His Team For blocked shots while helping The Spartans maintain top national rankings per The USCHO poll entering their match against Penn State.
