Seth Appert first identified the unique elements in Aleksandr Kisakov 's game during their days as opponents, when Kisakov was an up-and-coming prospect playing for Russia.
He saw those same elements when he evaluated tape of Kisakov this summer, and again when Kisakov took the ice for his first practice in a Sabres uniform earlier this week.
"I didn't like coaching against him. I like coaching him," Appert said. "He's a little bit of a magician with the puck. He really is. His creativity. His edge control is really special. … His cutbacks and his ability to find secondary plays is really unique."
Translating those skills to North America will be the next task for Kisakov, who signed his entry-level contract in May and has spent the past eight weeks in Buffalo following what he described as an emotional two-month immigration from Russia.
Buffalo drafted Kisakov during the second round in 2021, one of four Russian players selected by the organization that summer. Kisakov became the first of that group to sign with the team after scoring 56 points (26+30) in 51 games in Russia's junior league last season.
He was still awaiting his visa when development camp was held in July, forcing him to miss an early opportunity to meet teammates.
"It was very difficult emotionally," Sabres scout Frank Musil, who translated for Kisakov during a media session on Friday, said. "He was going through ups and downs. It didn't work out the first time. It was almost a two-month process. He's happy where he is now."
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Kisakov has skated on a line with Matt Savoie and Linus Weissbach through one game and two practices at the Prospects Challenge, his first official foray into pro North American hockey. The event will serve as an onboard into the season, which he will likely spend playing for Appert in Rochester.
Appert expressed confidence in Kisakov's ability to make the transition, likening the situation for him and fellow prospect Isak Rosen to the 15- and 16-year-olds he coached with the U.S. National Team Development Program who had to navigate playing against older players in the USHL.
"The first two or three months are at times miserable," Appert said. "But the really good ones - and these guys are really good - come November or December there's a massive jump in their game. Because they start to understand the competitiveness and the habits.
"These players that we're talking about, they have the skill and they have the mind to be great pro hockey players. And it's just going to take the adjustment of the physicality and the competitiveness on the puck. They'll adjust to that and it's our job to help them."
Forward Josh Bloom (upper body) and defenseman Zach Berzolla (lower body) are day to day after sustaining injuries during the Prospects Challenge opener on Thursday, the team announced.
Neither player participated in practice on Friday.
The Sabres play their middle game of the Prospects Challenge against the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be streamed on Sabres.com.
Fans can also come to KeyBank Center for the return of Fan Fest, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features appearances from current Sabres players and alumni. Find more information here.
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