Overview
- Carolina obtained forward Stiven Sardarian's signing rights from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade for future considerations, a deal announced on Monday and confirmed by team posts.
- Sardarian fell into contractual limbo after failing to notify the NHL Central Registry that he was no longer an undergraduate, which kept his rights with Buffalo past the expected free-agent date.
- The 23-year-old winger broke out after transferring to Michigan Tech, finishing the 2025–26 season as the CCHA Forward of the Year with 44 points in 37 games and 32 goals and 100 points across his NCAA career.
- Carolina has assigned Sardarian to its AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, and reporting says the team is likely to sign him to a minor-league contract rather than immediately using an NHL entry-level deal.
- The move is a low-cost bet by the Hurricanes to test a late-blooming college scorer in their system, and Buffalo loses a drafted prospect who never signed an NHL contract with the club.