Sabres haven't decided whether or not to keep D Nikita Zadorov

The 2013-14 Buffalo Sabres have amassed a 3-15-1 record in their first 19 games despite receiving mostly stellar goaltending from a rejuvenated Ryan Miller. As we get deeper into this NHL season, in fact, it's looking increasingly like the Sabres have a good shot at being the single worst NHL team in the history of the salary cap era. 

This doesn't exactly come as a surprise with all of the youth on the Sabres roster. At the moment the Sabres have four teenagers currently playing regularly, including three 19-year-olds in Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen; and an 18-year-old in Nikita Zadorov. 

Zadorov, who the Sabres drafted in the first round of the 2013 draft this June out of London, has made it into seven games already this season. If Zadorov plays in two more games then then first year of his three-year entry level contract will be tolled.

As an 18-year-old who was drafted out of the Canadian Hockey League, Zadorov is ineligible to be assigned to the American Hockey League. He also cannot be recalled from his major junior team (except in emergency circumstances) should he be re-assigned to London. 

As it stands the Sabres haven't decided whether or not to send Zadorov back to junior.  "Not as of this point we have not (made that decision), no," said Sabres coach Ron Rolston in an appearance on WGR550 on Tuesday. 

"We want to make sure he's developing the right way. He's been in the lineup and he's done some good things and we're still evaluating that."

"We'll continue to analyze if this is the spot for him to continue to develop, if this is the right venue for that," continued Rolston. "He's got a couple more games here and his attitudes been real good. We've certainly liked everything we've seen from him."

If Zadorov were returned to the CHL he'd join the London Knights, a club due to host the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament. Zadorov's presence on the Knights blue-line might swing things significantly in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference...