BUFFALO – After his contract in the Kontinental Hockey League expires next year, the Sabres expect prospect Prokhor Poltapov to come to North America and immediately jump into their lineup.
Where could the Russian, a winger the Sabres drafted in the second round in 2021, 33rd overall, fit in?
Tim Kennedy, the Sabres’ new director of player development, worked closely with the Poltapov in his previous role as a development coach. He believes the versatile youngster can play in the top six or top nine.
“He’s like a Swiss Army knife,” Kennedy said following Tuesday’s session of development camp in LECOM Harborcenter. “He can play with a lot of different players, play a lot of different roles. We love his compete and his skill.”
Poltapov, 23, has spent the last four seasons and part of another with CSKA Moscow, scoring 43 goals and 103 points in 266 games.
He scored 16 goals and 40 points in 68 games last season, nearly identical to his production (17 goals and 40 points in 68 contests) in 2024-25.
Poltapov scored five goals and 10 points in 56 outings as a rookie in 2022-23.
“The first year where he was playing in the KHL, it’s always hard for a young player to get opportunity, and I think he has developed very well in the last few years, and he’s getting more time on the top few lines,” Kennedy said. “He’s getting more power-play time, and the points he’s put up, I think, in the last few years at his age has been great.”
Poltapov’s KHL contract runs through 2026-27, according to multiple reports. He hasn’t signed a deal with the Sabres.
Kennedy said Ruslan Pechonkin, the Sabres’ Russian scout, helps them communicate with Poltapov. Kennedy said he and Jarko Ruutu, the team’s European development coach, watch Poltapov’s games, send him clips and talk to him once a week.