Third-rounder Sardarian scored 44 points as a senior at Michigan Tech last season.
The Buffalo Sabres under former GM Kevyn Adams had a very chequered record in the draft outside of the first round. Of the 39 players selected in rounds 2 through 7, the only player to play in the NHL has been 2021 seventh rounder Tyson Kozak. Buffalo’s first draft under Adams coming out of the COVID pandemic was particularly unsuccessful after top overall pick Owen Power.
14th overall pick Isak Rosen spent four successful years in the AHL before being traded to Winnipeg last March. Second rounder Prokhor Poltapov has bloomed the last two seasons with CSKA Moscow and their are rumors that he may sign with Buffalo after his KHL contract expires in 2027. Second rounder Aleksandr Kisakov and fifth rounder Nikita Novikov spent time in Rochester, but both returned to Russia after their ELC’s were done.
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Third rounder Josh Bloom’s rights were traded to Vancouver in 2023 for Riley Stillman, fourth rounder Olivier Nadeau was not given a qualifying offer after scoring 26 points with the Amerks last season, fifth rounder Viljami Marjala was not signed before the club’s rights expired in June 2025, and the 23-year-old scored 60 points as a rookie with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, as was sixth rounder William von Barnekow, who has played four seasons in the SHL.
Third rounder Stiven Sardarian is the final piece to the 2021 Draft puzzle. The 23-year-old Russian winger played in the USHL after being selected 88th overall and two years at the University of New Hampshire before using the NCAA transfer portal to go to Michigan Tech, where he led the club with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games as a junior and 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games as a senior.
Sardarian has yet to sign with the Sabres and will become an unrestricted free agent on August 15, something that is peculiar since the Amerks are in need of replenishment in terms of forward prospects since Rosen is gone, and both Noah Ostlund, and Konsta Helenius are expected to be playing in the NHL full-time next season.
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