Prospect Avenue Ep. 23: Sardarian starts hot; Young Amerks contributing
A jam-packed episode of Prospect Avenue provides updates on several Buffalo Sabres prospects including:
– Stiven Sardarian is making an impact at Michigan Tech, and is riding high off his CCHA Forward of the Week honor.
– Brodie Ziemer’s seamless transition to NCAA hockey continues.
– Amerks round-up with notes on Tyson Kozak, Jiri Kulich, Konsta Helenius, Isak Rosen, Viktor Neuchev, and Anton Wahlberg.
– Vasily Zelenov’s USHL traction is noteworthy as he formalizes his NCAA commitment.
– Luke Osburn gets tabbed for international play
– Could Scott Ratzlaff be on the move at the WHL deadline?
– Ethan Miedema emerging in Kingston
– Could Topias Leinonen be signed to his entry-level contract?
– As speculated, Prokhor Poltapov elects to extend his runway with CSKA Moscow.
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8 Comments
I am confident Ratzlaff will be invited to the WJC selection camp, but I am worried that he has not been playing behind a sound defence and may not be able to transition to the role Canada is looking to fill. I would prefer he be moved sooner than later.
Any info on Mora's acquisition of Lampinen, and how he has significantly cut into Leinonen's time? Looks like he played 3 or 4 in a row before Leinonen's start today.
The thing I want to see out of these kids as they reach their 19 year-old seasons in the CHL, and graduate to pro hockey is the development of their “B-game.”
Few of these guys are going to push their way into the NHL top-6. Who has a B-game to fill a role, and contribute down the lineup? They have the shill to provide complimentary scoring, but can they earn enough trust to get a coach to use them on PK, or in a shutdown role?
Thompson & Cozens aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Peterka is about to get paid. Quinn & Benson are still ascending (we hope), Tuch has a couple of years left.
Greenway, Zucker, & Aube-Kubel are up at the end of this year. The rookies who make the 2025-26 Sabres may be guys who can fill their roles, on cheaper Entry-Level Contracts.
I never realized that I could watch the Swedish league on Flo hockey! Just checked out Sardarian at Elite prospects, he's 6'1" and only weighs 157? That's one skinny kid. Amerks got screwed by the refs against Laval on Wednesday. Kozak is a hard worker on the ice, great two way player much like Benson. Wahlberg is the type of player I always hoped Murray would be. With the rule changes, I wonder if Ratzlaff opts to go to the NCAA now. You do a great job of covering all of these kids, thanks, it's always a concise report.
Wahlberg is a good one for sure. I always enjoy Baker going over the farm and foreign squads.
Always appreciate the updates, Kris!
Sardarian 🔥🔥🔥
Those three Russians from 2021 are coming along nicely. Poltopov is doing well is Russia, Kisakov has his moments in Rochester, and Sardarian is doing great in college!