Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have signed another one of their prospects from the 2021 NHL Draft class.
The team announced on Friday the signing of defensive prospect Nikita Novikov to his three-year entry-level contract.
Novikov just wrapped up his second season in the Kontinental Hockey League playing with Dynamo Moskva, playing 62 games and scoring two goals and three assists. The left-shot defenseman has played in 94 KHL games over the last two seasons, picking up nine points (3+6) along the way.
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The Moscow native has also represented Russia in international competition, winning a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. In seven games that tournament, Novikov registered five assists and was a plus-9.
While the 19-year-old is not the most offensive defender, at 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds, Novikov is a very solid player in his own end with strong physicality and smart instinctive play.
Novikov is the seventh Sabres prospect from the 2021 NHL Draft to sign their NHL contract. The only players remaining to sign an entry-level contract from that class includes second-round pick Prokhar Poltapov, third-rounder Stiven Sardarian, fifth-round pick Viljami Marjala, and sixth-rounder William Von Barnekow.
In addition, Novikov is the third Russian-born prospect to sign his entry-level contract with the Sabres over the last two offseasons. The first prospect was 2021 second-round forward Aleksandr Kisakov last offseason, where he played his first full season in Rochester this year.
The second Russian prospect to sign with the Sabres was 2022 third-round pick Viktor Neuchev, who signed his three-year rookie contract on May 2.
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