‘”Some of that could be injury history, some of that could be contracts tied up in Europe, and certainly the Russian variable is real. What is your plan to develop them? Are you going to be able to get them over here? And we’ve seen it both ways. We’ve drafted some Russian players that we’ve been able to get over here quick and get into our system, and we’ve drafted players like a Poltapov, who we knew was going to be years away based on a contract. If you believe you have the opportunity to get a player of value, well do it.”‘
Sabres pleased they changed philosophy with drafting Russian players
Source: WGR-AM