Buffalo Sabres prospect Stiven Sardarian did not sign with the club prior to the August 15th deadline, but was not an unrestricted free agent because he did not file paperwork with NHL Central Registry. On Monday, the Sabres traded Sardarian’s rights to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations.
The 23-year-old Russian winger played in the USHL after being selected 88th overall and two years at the University of New Hampshire before using the NCAA transfer portal to go to Michigan Tech, where he led the club with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games as a junior and 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games as a senior.
Advertisement
Other Sabres Stories
Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic Division?
According to a press release from the Hurricanes, Sardarian has been assigned to the Chicago Wolves, their AHL franchise, which would indicate that he will be signed to an AHL deal, which would not take up an NHL contract slot.
The Sabres have a history of passing on players that in the end turned out to be NHLers. All-Star and Canadian Olympian Brandon Hagel was a 2016 sixth round pick who was not signed within two years of being drafted, signed with Chicago in 2019, was traded to Tampa Bay in 2022 and has scored 30+ goals in three of the last four seasons.
Advertisement
Another example is 2021 fifth-rounder Viljami Marjala, whom the Sabres passed on signing to an NHL deal and who signed as a free agent with Edmonton in June 2025. The Finnish winger scored 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in his first season in North America for AHL Bakersfield.
It is unknown how good Sardarian will be, but clearly the Hurricanes saw something in him that the Sabres did not.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
Read the full article here