Buffalo drafted Olivier Nadeau in 2021. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres sign prospect Olivier Nadeau to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Olivier Nadeau, a fourth-round pick in 2021, 97th overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Sunday.

Nadeau, 19, set career highs across the board this season, recording 35 goals, 43 assists and a team-high 78 points in 65 games for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Shawinigan Cataractes. His 17 power-play goals were tied for fourth in the league.

The 6-foot-2, 204-pound Nadeau also registered two goals, ... Read the full article

Kevyn Adams drafted four Russians last year. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres sign prospect Aleksandr Kisakov to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed winger Aleksandr Kisakov, a second-round pick in 2021, 53rd overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Kisakov, 19, led Dynamo Moskva, a junior MHL team in his native Russia, with 56 points and ranked second with 26 goals in 2021-22. He had a team-high seven points, all assists, in six playoff contests.

The 5-foot-10, 150-pound Kisakov also earned a four-game recall to Dynamo’s parent club in the ... Read the full article

Jerry Forton ran his first NHL Draft as Buffalo’s director of amateur scouting. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Why did Sabres suddenly focus on Russians during NHL Draft?

BUFFALO – You had to go back five years and 34 picks to find the last time the Sabres drafted a Russian.

Before they selected winger Prokhor Poltapov 33rd overall Saturday, they hadn’t drafted a Russian since winger Vasily Glotov in the seventh round in 2016.

Poltapov’s selection was harbinger. The Sabres used three straight picks on Russians and took four overall Saturday.

Later in the second round, the Sabres drafted winger Aleksandr Kisakov with ... Read the full article

The Sabres have nine picks today. ©2021, NHL

2021 Sabres NHL Draft tracker: Buffalo selects Prokhor Poltapov

BUFFALO – The Sabres drafted Russian winger Prokhor Poltapov with the first pick of the second round, 33rd overall, this morning at the NHL Draft.

The 5-foot-11, 174-pound Poltapov, 18, recorded 25 goals and 52 points in 61 games last season with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, a junior team in the MHL. Poltapov also registered two goals and seven points in seven contests for Team Russia at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship.

He also played one ... Read the full article