First-rounder Zach Benson made the NHL as an 18-year-old last season
Here is a quick update on the players selected in 2023:
Anton Wahlberg – C – 39th overall
Wahlberg played for Sweden at the World Junior Championships in Gothenburg in December and was a linemate with fellow Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund. After playing a full year with Malmo in the SHL last season, the 19-year-old came to North America to play with Rochester at the end of the regular season and in all five Calder Cup playoff games vs. Syracuse.
This season, the 6’4”, 198 lb. forward has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in six games. He is young enough to play again for Sweden internationally this December at the 2025 IIHF World Junior in Ottawa.
Maxim Strbak – D – 45th overall
The big right-handed defenseman left his native Slovakia to play in the USHL leading into his draft year and has nine points in his freshman year at Michigan State. The 19-year-old was outstanding for his native country at the 2024 World Junior, scoring the second-most points in the tournament (1 goal, 6 assists) in just five games.
This season with the Spartans, Strbak has four assists in six games, and in December he will likely play in his fourth WJC with Slovakia in Ottawa.
Gavin McCarthy – D – 86th overall
A Western New York native who played three seasons for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, McCarthy played two years for Muskegon before heading to Boston University. The 6’2”, 183 lb. McCarthy had five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 38 games for BU, who went to the Frozen Four.
McCarthy has one assist in five games in his sophomore season. The 19-year-old blueliner attended Team USA’s World Junior summer camp and could be on the radar for the squad going to Ottawa in December.
Follow Michael on X @MikeInBuffalo