ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres defense prospect Nikita Novikov displayed special offensive instincts throughout his first regular season in North America.
“Borderline high-end,” said coach Seth Appert, whose Americans open the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday at Blue Cross Arena in a best-of-five series against the Syracuse Crunch.
Without the benefit of power-play time, the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Novikov compiled 20 assists, a high total for a rookie acclimating to a different brand of hockey.... Read the full article