Sapovaliv skated as an AHL rookie with the Henderson Silver Knights in 2024- 2025. He scored 11 goals, added nine assists and fired 81 shots on goal in 71 games. That he was able to hold up to the rigors of the longer professional season is a good sign for the 21 year old. The offense wasn’t as exciting, and tailed off near the end of the season to the tune of four points in his last 29 games from February to April. As those above him on the depth chart graduate or move elsewhere, Sapovaliv could see himself gain more opportunity and deployment- he saw just a single powerplay point on the season- but temper your expectations, as at the NHL level he projects as a complimentary offensive contributor, and likely a middle-six playmaker.

Sapovaliv finds himself back on the international stage, representing Czechia for the third time at the 2024 World Junior Championships. He enters the tournament with 12 goals through 27 games played thus far with Saginaw of the OHL, with 6 of those coming with the man advantage. Given his high shooting percentage (sitting at 19.7 and roughly one percentage point above his 18.8 mark through 66 games in his draft+1 season last year), he stands poised to enter the professional ranks with a more well rounded offensive profile as he becomes more comfortable releasing his shot. He hopes to add on to his international track record with Team Czechia alongside names including Jiri Kulich (BUF) and goaltender Michael Hrabal (ARI).

The Knights’ 2022 second rounder did not make a huge jump offensively this season, but his overall game grew and he came on strong in crunch time, both with his club team in Saginaw and internationally at the World Juniors. Sapovaliv posted an assist-per game in the tournament for Czechia, with time spent on the PK there reflective of his growth as a defensive player. Back with the Spirit, he ultimately tied Dean Lokus and the “exceptional” rookie Michael Misa for the team lead in points before heating up further to a team leading 17 points in 11 playoff games. At the end of the day, it is hard to dislike a player with Sapovaliv’s toolkit, and he stands to enter the pro ranks as one of Vegas’ better forward prospects after one more year of development with the 2024 Memorial Cup host Saginaw.

The Vegas Golden Knights have selected Sapovaliv in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 48th overall.

Sapovaliv had a fairly productive season on a weak Saginaw team, netting 18 goals and 34 assists in 68 contests. He followed that up with three points through six games representing Czechia at the U18 World Championships, but his traits and skillset are more intriguing than the production.