Poltapov update 2026

[LGR4GM]

 

 

[sabresparaavida]

Is that just talking him up to increase his value or does this front office plan on inserting him into the lineup next season? If he is plug and play as Forton suggests, he would be a good cost-controlled Zucker replacement. 

[Crusader1969]

This is exactly the news I was hoping to hear.   Love this kid.  

[Nacho Libre]

Reminds me of Ruotsalainen. Plug and play 2C on the way 

[Big Guava]

PP...aptly named 🤣

[Curt]

Looking at his stat lines for the past couple years, it looks pretty decent, but I didn’t realize that he actually led his team in both goal and assists this past season.  Not sure how much it really means, but it’s sure not a bad thing.

[Crusader1969]

 

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

 

After being mostly ignored by Sabres fans for 4 years, and the greater NHL fan base entirely, I've got a feeling ol' Porky is finally gonna start popping up on people's radar screens this year.

[steveoath]

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

After being mostly ignored by Sabres fans for 4 years, and the greater NHL fan base entirely, I've got a feeling ol' Porky is finally gonna start popping up on people's radar screens this year.

Hope so!!

[Mr. MVP]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

After being mostly ignored by Sabres fans for 4 years, and the greater NHL fan base entirely, I've got a feeling ol' Porky is finally gonna start popping up on people's radar screens this year.

More than just ignored. A lot of y’all straight up wrote him off. 

[tom webster]

On 6/27/2026 at 7:49 PM, sabresparaavida said:

Is that just talking him up to increase his value or does this front office plan on inserting him into the lineup next season? If he is plug and play as Forton suggests, he would be a good cost-controlled Zucker replacement. 

I missed this in June but he won’t really be all that cost controlled. Because of his age, I think his entry level contract will be one year.

[Taro T]

5 minutes ago, tom webster said:

I missed this in June but he won’t really be all that cost controlled. Because of his age, I think his entry level contract will be one year.

Presuming he signs a contract sometime after 2/1/27 and before he's 28, he'd be on an ELC for 1 year.  Sign before then (and not sure he could due to his KHL deal) and he'd be in the system for 2 years.

[pi2000]

Could he join the team for the playoff run?

[DarthEbriate]

10 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

Could he join the team for the playoff run?

Theorhetically? It's possible. The KHL season ends in late March, though CSKA Moskva has made the playoffs 15 years running and in 20 of the last 21 seasons. Mid-April... he could jump the Arctic if he wanted to do more hockey-ing this season.

Google AI search results says the last player was Alexander Radulov in 2012... which EliteProspects confirms (at least that he did play in both leagues' playoffs in the same season).

50 GP with Salavat, then added 21 playoff games. 9 GP with Nashville, and then 8 playoff games. But... the dates don't line up for our current season, as his first game in Nashville is 3/22/2012 -- to start those 9 regular season games. With a 2026-27 calendar, the KHL playoffs would just be beginning at that time. The KHL calendar that season ended in February.

[Pimlach]

Would love to see him come in and be gritty like Benson.  More sandpaper with skill. 

[GoPuckYourself]

[LGR4GM]

16 hours ago, dudacek said:

After being mostly ignored by Sabres fans for 4 years, and the greater NHL fan base entirely, I've got a feeling ol' Porky is finally gonna start popping up on people's radar screens this year.

I'll worry about him when he actually signs a NA contract. 

[dudacek]

9 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I'll worry about him when he actually signs a NA contract. 

I heard Chad D speculating that the Sabres are worried about being able to make that happen.

Same with Adam Kleber.

More specifically, he said he’s heard the team is worried about signing a couple of its prospects and he wonders if it could be those two.

[JohnC]

On 6/27/2026 at 7:22 PM, LGR4GM said:

 

 

What caliber of player is he? Is he a second or third line player? And what player/s in the league is his play similar to? If it would be a younger Zucker type player, I would be very pleased. 

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, JohnC said:

What caliber of player is he? Is he a second or third line player? And what player/s in the league is his play similar to? If it would be a younger Zucker type player, I would be very pleased. 

Idk. Haven't seen more than highlights here and there of Poltapov in a long time. 

[pi2000]

magic beans

[nfreeman]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I'll worry about him when he actually signs a NA contract. 

 

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

I heard Chad D speculating that the Sabres are worried about being able to make that happen.

Same with Adam Kleber.

More specifically, he said he’s heard the team is worried about signing a couple of its prospects and he wonders if it could be those two.

Is this the same kinda situation as a college player?  i.e. do the Sabres lose Poltie's rights if they don't sign him within a certain period after he is drafted?

[LGR4GM]

57 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

 

Is this the same kinda situation as a college player?  i.e. do the Sabres lose Poltie's rights if they don't sign him within a certain period after he is drafted?

It is different than college, I don't know the exact details but I think they retain his rights until 28yrs old. College, once you do your 4yrs you become a specific UFA class on August 15th if not signed. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, nfreeman said:

 

Is this the same kinda situation as a college player?  i.e. do the Sabres lose Poltie's rights if they don't sign him within a certain period after he is drafted?

 

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

It is different than college, I don't know the exact details but I think they retain his rights until 28yrs old. College, once you do your 4yrs you become a specific UFA class on August 15th if not signed. 

Puckpedia has him listed as eligible for UFA in 2030.  So, he'd still be 27.  Had expected if he never signs with the Sabres that he'd be eligible for UFA status in the summer of '31.  Not sure exactly what the source of that discrepancy is; but expecting that Puckpedia is correct.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Taro T said:

 

Puckpedia has him listed as eligible for UFA in 2030.  So, he'd still be 27.  Had expected if he never signs with the Sabres that he'd be eligible for UFA status in the summer of '31.  Not sure exactly what the source of that discrepancy is; but expecting that Puckpedia is correct.

27, sorry that is correct. It is because there is no transfer agreement with the NHL. Russian prospects rights are held until they achieve UFA status as outlined in the CBA, which is 27 for most players.