Sardarian - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres trade prospect Stiven Sardarian to Hurricanes

The Buffalo Sabres today traded the rights to unsigned forward prospect Stiven Sardarian to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for future considerations.

Sardarian, who has played the last four seasons in the NCAA, was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Saturday. The Russian, however, did not submit paperwork to NHL Central Registry indicating he is no longer an undergraduate student, according to Puckpedia.com.

He will remain on a reserve list until paperwork is filed, ... Read the full article

Russian prospect Prokhor Poltapov could join Sabres next year

ORCHARD PARK – Over the 2021 and 2022 drafts, the Sabres took some big swings by drafting six Russians, including four in the second and third rounds.

Just one, defenseman Vsevolod Komarov, a strong prospect with the Rochester Americans, finished last season under contract in the organization.

So far, zero have played an NHL game. That could, however, change next year.... Read the full article

Former Sabres prospects have found new jobs all over this offseason

In early June, just days after the Buffalo Sabres relinquished the rights to Viljami Marjala, a high-scoring forward they drafted in the fifth round in 2021, the Edmonton Oilers snapped up the prospect, signing him to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Marjala, fresh off a breakout season in which he registered 44 assists and 52 points in 54 games for TPS Turku, will likely begin the upcoming campaign with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.

Perhaps ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Will Buffalo draft more Russians this year?

BUFFALO – A year ago, the Sabres saw value in Russian prospects, so they drafted four of them, including three straight in the second and third rounds.

Taking a single Russian would’ve been notable; the Sabres hadn’t selected one in five years. Grabbing so many, especially early, indicated general manager Kevyn Adams would operate differently than his predecessors.

The world, of course, has changed a lot over the past year. Russia’s invasion of the ... Read the full article

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

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

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