OTP - Helenius Needs To Play Top-Six Center In Rochester 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 is leading the club with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games. He played one game for the Sabres this season. If Buffalo begins to trade off players on expiring contracts before the deadline, Rosen will likely 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. After scoring just 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 56 regular-season games, Poltapov bolted out of the gate with 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in his first 18 games. After a two-year extension with CSKA was announced, his scoring pace slowed, and currently, he has 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 36 games. 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 21-year-old winger had a goal and two assists in a pre-season rout of Syracuse, but during the regular season has only played four games for Rochester, with one goal vs. Cleveland. Stiven Sardarian – D - 88th overall The 21-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 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 16 games. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo [https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo]
