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
Rosen came over to North America to play in the AHL in 2022 and improved steadily under former Rochester head coach Seth Appert. The 21-year-old was an important piece of the Amerks run to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final two years ago, and in his second AHL season, he finished with 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) in 67 games, and earned an NHL promotion and seven games with the Sabres in late November and early December.
In his third season with the Amerks, Rosen leads the club with 40 points (24 goals, 16 assists) in 43 games, earning a spot in the AHL All-Star game, and two call-ups to the Sabres this season. It is likely that if Buffalo begins to trade off players on expiring contracts before the deadline, he will get an extended look in the NHL late in the season.
Prokhor Poltapov – LW - 33rd overall
The 21-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 has doubled his career-high with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in his 54 games, but is likely to stay in the KHL for the foreseeable future after signing a two-year contract extension.
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 seven games, the indicators are that the Sabres have soured on the 22-year-old and may not qualify him after his entry-level contract expires in June.
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 is leading the club with 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 29 games and could be in the mix to be a Hobey Baker finalist.
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