Zach Benson was the Buffalo Sabres first-round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e221802e-ded3-432c-bf8a-2386dc98975d.jpeg] Zach Benson was the Buffalo Sabres first-round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. Here is a quick update on the players selected in 2023: Anton Wahlberg – C – 39th overall Wahlberg has thrived playing in his second World Junior Championships for Sweden, leading their forwards with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in four preliminary round games and scoring a goal in the Swedes' quarterfinal contest against Latvia. The 19-year-old came to North America to play with Rochester at the end of last season and in all five Calder Cup playoff games vs. Syracuse. This season, the 6’4”, 198 lb. forward has 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists) in 40 games and is averaging over a point per game in the last six games. 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 and had another good showing at the WJC in January, with six points in five games. This season with the Spartans, Strbak has nine points (1 goal, 14 assists) in 26 games. 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 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in 28 games in his sophomore season. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
