Buffalo's 4-3 victory over New York puts them in sole possession of top spot in the Atlantic.
The Buffalo Sabres have begun to lock up some of their bevy of prospects playing in the NCAA. Last month, the club signed WNY native Gavin McCarthy after his junior season at Boston University, and on Wednesday, the club signed fellow 2023 draftee Maxim Strbak to a three-year entry-level contract.
The 20-year-old’s Michigan State Spartans were eliminated by Big-10 rival Wisconsin last weekend, which began the exodus of NHL prospects from the squad, including Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder Porter Martone, and Detroit Red Wings goalie prospect Trey Augustine.
Strbak was the Sabres' 2023 second-round pick, a draft in which the club’s selection strategy under former GM Kevyn Adams seemed to shift from high skill to players with size. After selecting big Swedish forward Anton Wahlberg earlier in the round, the club chose the Slovakian blueliner 45th overall.
The 6’2″, 205 lb. defenseman played his youth hockey in Finland for Jokerit and has played internationally for his home country at the Under-18s and in four straight World Juniors, starting at age 16 in 2022. Strbak shifted to North America prior to his draft year and played for Sioux Falls in the USHL. In three years at Michigan State, he played in 102 NCAA games, posting 46 points (8 goals, 38 assists), as well as 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists) in 19 WJC games.
As with McCarthy, Strbak has signed an amateur tryout contract to finish out the season with AHL Rochester.
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The signing is the fifth of the 2023 Sabres draft class, as first-rounder Zach Benson, second-rounder Wahlberg, and fifth-rounder goalie Scott Ratzlaff have previously signed their entry-level deals.
The Sabres pulled into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, but in the process, may have lost center Sam Carrick long-term. Carrick fought with Isles captain Anders Lee at the start of the third period after Lee had hit teammate Josh Norris from behind in the second. Carrick was wrenched down to the ice and left the ice in obvious discomfort.
"I don't think I can say enough about (Carrick) stepping into spots. He's been a big part of our team, and for him to challenge the guy who hit Norris from behind. I just hate to lose him," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "It was a left arm injury. It'll be evaluated, and we'll see more exactly what that is."
Buffalo cancelled practice prior to leaving for Ottawa, and no update on the injury has been provided.
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