Sabres had 11 picks in 2021 and only third-rounder Josh Bloom is no longer in the fold
Sabres had 11 picks in 2021 and only third-rounder Josh Bloom is no longer in the fold
The Buffalo Sabres are considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL. This is partially the benefit of selecting so high in recent drafts, but the club has also appeared to have a keen eye for talent and has promising youngsters that they’ve selected in the lower rounds.
Here is a quick update on the players selected in 2021 not currently in the NHL:
Isak Rosen – RW - 14th overall
Rosen came over to North America to play in the AHL last season and improved steadily under Rochester head coach Seth Appert. The 20-year-old was an important piece of the Amerks run to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final, and this season his progress has continued, as he is at over a point-per-game pace (5 goals, 8 assists in 12 games)
Prokhor Poltapov – LW - 33rd overall
The 20-year-old Russian is slowly making his way from playing as a depth forward with CSKA Moscow this season, with four goals in 20 games.
Aleksandr Kisakov – LW - 53rd overall
After a year of getting acclimated to North America, Kisakov started out this season shot out of a cannon, with three goals in the Amerks first five games. Unfortunately, that ended with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup since October 25.
Stiven Sardarian – D - 88th overall
The Russian blueliner 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 five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in seven games.
Olivier Nadeau – RW – 97th overall
A big scoring winger in the QMJHL, Nadeau did not get into the Amerks lineup until November 1, but in his third professional game, the 20-year-old scored his first professional goal vs. Syracuse.
Viljami Marjala – LW – 159th overall
Marjala, the 20-year-old returned to Finland after two seasons in the QMJHL to play for TPS in the SM-Liiga. After playing part-time last season, Marjala has nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in 19 games.
William Von Barnekow – C – 161st overall
Von Barnekow out of the Malmo Redhawks junior system who averaged over a point per game in his draft year and the following year at the junior level, but struggled to generate any offense as a professional last season, due in part to limited ice time. This season, the 21-year-old has equaled his goal total (4) in just 17 games.
Nikita Novikov – D – 188th overall
After playing two years with Dynamo Moscow in the KHL, the 6’3”, 207 lb. blueliner came to North America and thus far has adjusted well with the Rochester Americans, registering six assists in 11 games.
Tyson Kozak – C – 193rd overall
There are not many players who are picked in the seventh round and start in the pros as a 19-year-old. Kozak went from the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks to the Amerks last season as mostly a depth role player. This year he has two assists in nine AHL games.
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