With the first pick of the second round, 33rd overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres select winger Prokhor Poltapov from Krasnaya Armiya Moskva in the MHL in Russia.
Poltapov played nearly his entire 2020-21 campaign in the MHL with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, scoring 25 goals and registering 27 assists for 52 points in 61 games. His 25 goals this season ranked Poltapov sixth in the MHL, while his 52 points put him 12th in league scoring.
The 18-year-old also made his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League this season, appearing in one game with CSKA Moskva in Russia's top professional league.
Poltapov also participated in the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship for Russia, where he scored two goals and registered five assists for seven points in seven games. He ended up winning a silver medal in the tournament, losing to Canada in the gold medal game.
The native of St. Petersburg, Russia stands in at 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds and is an electrifying skater. Poltapov is an aggressive player on the puck who can use his speed alone to create scoring chances for himself or his teammates on the rush. He's not afraid to take the puck to the net to score, nor is he afraid to let a lethal shot go on goal from just about anywhere.
Poltapov was ranked as high as 22nd overall by ISS Hockey, 33rd by McKeen's Hockey, and 38th by TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie.
Buffalo will have another second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft at 53rd overall from the Boston Bruins.
***Photo: Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres)
