Here is a quick update on the prospects the Sabres selected in 2021 who are not currently in the NHL:
Isak Rosen – RW - 14th overall
In his third season with the Amerks, Rosen led the club with 55 points (28 goals, 27 assists) in 61 games, earned an AHL All-Star appearance, and numerous call-ups to the Sabres, registering his first NHL point in eight games. Puzzlingly in spite of Buffalo being well out of the playoff race, GM Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff did not give the 22-year-old winger the same long look as teammate Noah Ostlund received at the end of the season.
Rosen so far has two goals in four playoff games for Rochester.
Prokhor Poltapov – LW - 33rd overall
The 22-year-old winger slogged through his first two KHL seasons, playing a depth role with CSKA Moscow, but after scoring just 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 56 regular season games, Poltapov tripled his career-high with 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 68 games and three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in six games, as Dynamo was eliminated by Traktor Chelabynsk. Poltapov is likely to stay in the KHL for the foreseeable future after signing a two-year contract extension.
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Aleksandr Kisakov – LW - 53rd overall
After a year of getting acclimated to North America, Kisakov started last season shot out of a cannon, but was slowed by injury and ended the campaign with 13 points in 32 games. The winger had a goal and two assists in a pre-season rout of Syracuse, but during the regular season he has not been able to earn a regular spot in the lineup. In spite of scoring three goals in 13 games, there are indicators are that the Sabres have soured on the 22-year-old and Amerks assistant coach Vaclav Prospal said earlier in the season that window is closing on the Russian winger in the Sabres organization.
Kisakov is a restricted free agent this summer and if he is not extended a qualifying offer, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Stiven Sardarian – D - 88th overall
The 22-year-old Russian winger took a different path, playing in the USHL and then to the NCAA with the University of New Hampshire. After scoring only seven points as a freshman, Sardarian has doubled his totals as a sophomore, with 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in 32 games, but this season used the NCAA transfer portal to go to Michigan Tech, where he led the club with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games.
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