– Viktor Neuchev, winger, third round, No. 74: The Sabres had a first-round grade on Neuchev after he produced 40 goals in Russia’s top junior league and his 363 shots on goal were 53 more than any other player in the Kontinental Hockey League this season. He totaled four goals with 12 points in 57 games in a limited role. He’ll play in Rochester next season after signing an entry-level contract with Buffalo, and his left-handed shot should help the Amerks replace Kulich if he graduates to the NHL in the fall.
– Mats Lindgren, defenseman, fourth round, No. 106: Lindgren was traded to the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels before this season and almost replicated the big numbers he produced as a draft-eligible prospect, totaling 11 goals and 34 points in 63 regular-season games. The Sabres have yet to sign Lindgren to an entry-level contract, but he’s shown over the past 12 months that he’s becoming a more complete defenseman.
– Vsevelod Komarov, defenseman, fifth round, No. 134: Komarov made the Sabres look good with his breakout season in Quebec, as the physical, 6-foot-3 blue-liner became an important catalyst in the Remparts’ run to the Memorial Cup. He produced 12 goals and 39 points in 62 regular-season games, followed by eight points in 17 playoff games, before the Sabres signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. Komarov, 19, is too young to start next season in Rochester, but he’s expected to join the Amerks once his junior season ends.
## 2021
– Aleksandr Kisakov, winger, second round, No. 53: A slender winger with an effective shot and a knack for delivering creative plays, Kisakov made the move to Rochester this season and totaled six goals with eight points in 48 regular-season games. He wasn’t used in the playoffs and needs to add strength to take the next step in his development. Kisakov, 20, is expected to have a bigger role with the Amerks next season.
– Olivier Nadeau, winger, fourth round, No. 97: The 6-foot-2 power forward has a skill set unlike anyone else in the prospect pipeline. His 57 goals and 124 points over the past two seasons showed the Sabres that he’s ready for the AHL. Nadeau, 20, was around the Amerks for most of their playoff run and is expected to be part of their team next season.
– Nikita Novikov, defenseman, sixth round, No. 188: Novikov fell in the draft because of concerns about the ability to sign the 6-foot-4, mobile defenseman with a left-handed shot. The Sabres let him develop in the KHL, where he appeared in 94 games, then signed him to an entry-level contract. He’ll be in Rochester next season.
– Tyson Kozak, center, seventh round, No. 193: The Sabres drafted Kozak when there was little information on the scrappy forward, but he delivered a breakout season in the WHL in 2021-22 to earn an entry-level contract and he was among Rochester’s most trusted defensive forwards during its playoff run this spring.
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Some of the less common names…
## 2022
– Viktor Neuchev, winger, third round, No. 74: The Sabres had a first-round grade on Neuchev after he produced 40 goals in Russia’s top junior league and his 363 shots on goal were 53 more than any other player in the Kontinental Hockey League this season. He totaled four goals with 12 points in 57 games in a limited role. He’ll play in Rochester next season after signing an entry-level contract with Buffalo, and his left-handed shot should help the Amerks replace Kulich if he graduates to the NHL in the fall.
– Mats Lindgren, defenseman, fourth round, No. 106: Lindgren was traded to the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels before this season and almost replicated the big numbers he produced as a draft-eligible prospect, totaling 11 goals and 34 points in 63 regular-season games. The Sabres have yet to sign Lindgren to an entry-level contract, but he’s shown over the past 12 months that he’s becoming a more complete defenseman.
– Vsevelod Komarov, defenseman, fifth round, No. 134: Komarov made the Sabres look good with his breakout season in Quebec, as the physical, 6-foot-3 blue-liner became an important catalyst in the Remparts’ run to the Memorial Cup. He produced 12 goals and 39 points in 62 regular-season games, followed by eight points in 17 playoff games, before the Sabres signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. Komarov, 19, is too young to start next season in Rochester, but he’s expected to join the Amerks once his junior season ends.
## 2021
– Aleksandr Kisakov, winger, second round, No. 53: A slender winger with an effective shot and a knack for delivering creative plays, Kisakov made the move to Rochester this season and totaled six goals with eight points in 48 regular-season games. He wasn’t used in the playoffs and needs to add strength to take the next step in his development. Kisakov, 20, is expected to have a bigger role with the Amerks next season.
– Olivier Nadeau, winger, fourth round, No. 97: The 6-foot-2 power forward has a skill set unlike anyone else in the prospect pipeline. His 57 goals and 124 points over the past two seasons showed the Sabres that he’s ready for the AHL. Nadeau, 20, was around the Amerks for most of their playoff run and is expected to be part of their team next season.
– Nikita Novikov, defenseman, sixth round, No. 188: Novikov fell in the draft because of concerns about the ability to sign the 6-foot-4, mobile defenseman with a left-handed shot. The Sabres let him develop in the KHL, where he appeared in 94 games, then signed him to an entry-level contract. He’ll be in Rochester next season.
– Tyson Kozak, center, seventh round, No. 193: The Sabres drafted Kozak when there was little information on the scrappy forward, but he delivered a breakout season in the WHL in 2021-22 to earn an entry-level contract and he was among Rochester’s most trusted defensive forwards during its playoff run this spring.