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.
Assistant general manager Jerry Forton, who’s in charge of amateur scouting, said winger Prokhor Poltapov, the highest drafted of the group and perhaps the most talented, could join the Sabres next year.
The Sabres selected Poltapov in the second round in 2021, 33rd overall. His contract with CSKA Moscow, a Kontinental Hockey League team, runs through 2026-27, according to multiple reports. He hasn’t signed a contract with Buffalo.
Poltapov, 23, has spent the last four seasons and part of another in the KHL, scoring 43 goals and 103 points in 266 games.
Forton said Poltapov doesn’t get “talked about too much, at least outside Buffalo.”
“We consider him almost a plug-and-play prospect the day he’s ready to come over, which I think should be next year,” Forton said Saturday at One Bills Drive following the NHL Draft. “(He) has middle-six qualities that I think will be pretty unique for our organization.
“When we talk sometimes about our pieces that have gone out of this organization, or even some of the pieces that have come in in the last year or two, you don’t hear his name as much. I think he’s very much a guy that can come in and make an impact the day he gets over here.”
What happened to the other Russians the Sabres drafted?
– They loaned defenseman Nikita Novikov (186th overall in 2021) from Rochester to the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate, last season.
Novikov played 183 games for the Amerks.
– They traded winger Viktor Neuchev (74th overall in 2022) to the Carolina Hurricanes last season, and he finished with the Chicago Wolves, their AHL affiliate.
Neuchev played 130 games for the Amerks.
– The Sabres did not give winger Aleksandr Kisakov (53rd overall in 2021) a qualifying offer last year. He spent last season in the KHL and the VHL, a Russian minor league.
Kisakov played 93 games for the Amerks.
– The Sabres haven’t signed forward Stiven Sardarian (88th overall in 2021). He spent last season at Western Michigan University.
They hold his rights until Aug. 15.
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Most years, Forton explained, NHL Central Scouting asks teams picking low not to “harass” too many prospects expected to be chosen at the top of the draft.
Why waste their time, right?
So understandably, the Sabres, who owned the 27th selection earlier this month during the NHL Scouting Combine, did not talk to defenseman Daxon Rudolph, the prospect they took fourth overall Friday, in the weeks before the draft.
The Sabres, however, knew all about the Rudolph, who spent the last two seasons starring for the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders.
When they acquired the fourth pick Tuesday in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Sabres were ready.
“We’ve spent a lot of time with him for the past couple years,” Forton said.
Forton said two Buffalo scouts, Graham Beamish and Lukas Sutter scour the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada camps.
“They know him inside and out as a player and a person,” he said.
Forton said he and assistant director of amateur scouting Jason Nightingale and scout Kevin Devine each saw Rudolph play at least 10 times.
“We think very highly of him as a person,” he said. “The hockey sense combo with the compete and character made an impression on us.”
The Sabres chatted with Rudolph on Friday morning.
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Forton said defense prospect Adam Kleber, a second-round pick in 2024, 42nd overall, will be returning to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for his junior season.
“We’re thrilled with him as a prospect,” Forton said. “If he wanted to come out this year, he would’ve had an NHL contract waiting for him. I think he felt like another year in that league would suit him well, and we’re never going to push a kid to make that decision one way or another. He knows what’s best for himself. But we view him as a pretty high-end NHL prospect for us.”
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The Sabres have the first of three on-ice sessions of development camp Monday at LECOM Harborcenter. They close camp with a scrimmage at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.